COVID-19

From beginning April 2020 this website aims to collect and link the most relevant studies and guidelines in connection with COVID-19. Target audience are healthcare professionals from all specialities.

Die Zusammenstellung der Website update-coronavirus.ch richtet sich an medizinische Fachpersonen, die in kurzer Zeit einen Überblick über die wichtigsten aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Publikationen im Zusammenhang mit COVID-19 haben wollen. Die Website hat keinen Anspruch auf Vollständigkeit noch wird mit der Auflistung eine wissenschaftliche Würdigung oder Gewichtung des Inhaltes vorgenommen. Sie widerspiegelt die persönliche Einschätzung der Mitglieder der Taskforce.

Das Wissen zum Krankheitsbild Covid-19 hat sich zu Beginn der Pandemie sehr rasch entwickelt. Die Frequenz der Publikationen von neuen, klinisch relevanten Erkenntnissen nimmt stetig ab. Aus diesem Grunde werden auf der Homepage nur noch ausgewählte Artikel aufgeschaltet, welche von der Taskforce als klinisch relevant eingestuft wurden. (14. Okt. 20)

Knowledge about the disease Covid-19 developed very quickly at the beginning of the pandemic. The frequency of publications of new, clinically relevant findings is steadily decreasing. For this reason, only selected articles that have been classified as clinically relevant by the task force are published on the homepage. (14th Oct. 20)

Publications and Guidelines

02.04.2020

COVID-19 Information for Switzerland

Täglich aktualisierte Website, die die kantonalen Daten zu COVID19 Fällen, Prävalenz, Hospitalisationen und Verstorbenen übersichtlich und transparent darstellt. Link zu den Rohdaten.

Probst D, corona-data.ch, 2020

#general #epidemiology

02.04.2020

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in different types of clinical specimens

Die Autoren haben teils widerholt Phyaryngealabstriche von 205 Patienten mit gesicherter COVID19 Infektion genommen und mittels RT-PCR analysiert sowie mit Proben aus anderem Material (zB Urin, Sputum, Nasenabstriche, oder BAL) verglichen. Die höchste Sensitivität ergab sich für Proben per BAL (92%; 15 gesamt) , während Nasenabstriche (63%, 8) und Pharyngealabstriche (32%, 398) deutlich schlechter abschnitten.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

Auch wenn die Studie klein und methodisch eingeschränkt ist: Vorsicht mit der Interpretation der COVID-Abstriche! Sowohl zum Entisolieren als auch - bei miserablem positiv prädiktiven Wert - Screenen taugt die RT-PCR allein nicht.

Wang et al. JAMA 2020 Mar 11

#diagnosis #emergency medicine

02.04.2020

Covid-19-Pandemie: Triage von intensivmedizinischen Behandlungen bei Ressourcenknappheit

Die Richtlinien spezifizieren anhand von zwei definierten Stufen, wie aus ethischer Sicht entschieden werden soll, wenn aufgrund unzureichender notfall-- und intensivmedizinischer Ressourcen Rationierungsentscheidungen erforderlich werden.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

Eine praxistaugliche, fundiert hergeleitete und breit abgestützte Hilfestellung für extrem schwierige Entscheidungen.

Scheidegger D et al. samw.ch, 2020 Mar 20

#consensus statement #treatment #ICU #emergency medicine

01.04.2020

Circulation Video Series: COVID Updates From the Front Lines

Several in-depth interviews with experts working in COVID-19 hotspots from the editors of Circulation are presented.

Circulation Video

#general #audio / video #cardiovascular #cardiology

01.04.2020

Renin–Angiotensin–Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Patients with Covid-19

In this overview, the authors discuss the uncertain effects of RAAS inhibitors on ACE2 in humans and as well the potential for benefit rather than harm of RAAS inhibitors in Covid-19 patients.

Vaduganathan et al. NEJM, 2020 Mar 30

#general #review #cardiovascular #cardiology

01.04.2020

Chest CT Findings in Cases from the Cruise Ship “Diamond Princess” with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

This study analysed the CT images of 112 COVID-positive passengers on the cruise ship Diamond Princess. CT revealed abnormal findings in keeping with COIVD-19 pneumonia in 44 (>50%) of the 82/112 asymptomatic patients. Among the 30/112 symptomatic patients CT was abnormal in 80% (24/30) but normal in 20% (6/30) cases.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

Despite its small size, the study is important because it has revealed that CT findings suggestive of COVID-19 can be present in asymptomatic patients. This insight has not only enabled the University Hospital Inselspital Bern to detect, diagnose and isolate an unsuspecting seemingly healthy carrier of SARS-COV-2 but also changed the practice of radiology at this hospital where all CTs – regardless of patient history or clinical query – are checked for findings attributable to COVID-19 before patients leave the scan room.

Inui S et al. Radiology: Cardiothoracic Imaging. 2020 Mar 17

#diagnosis #imaging #prevention #radiology

01.04.2020

Radiological Society of North America Expert Consensus Statement on Reporting Chest CT Findings Related to COVID-19

In this “Consensus Statement on Reporting of CT Findings Related to COVID-19”, the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) offers aids in recognizing, reporting, and communicating CT imaging findings of COVID-19 pneumonia to facilitate the management and care of patients.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

This useful publication has the potential to improve the diagnostic accuracy and clarity of radiology reports and increase their practical value during this pandemic.

Simpson S et al. Radiology. 2020 Mar 25

#imaging #review #consensus statement #radiology

01.04.2020

Epidemiological Characteristics of 2143 Pediatric Patients With 2019 Coronavirus Disease in China

Currently the largest case series of pediatric patients reported from China, with 713 virologically confirmed and 1412 supected cases, respectively. 13% of patients were asymptomatic, 84% had mild to moderate disease, 3% had "severe" disease as defined by supplemental O2 requirement. There were no fatal cases.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

Children with suspected COVID-19 tended to be more severely affected than patients with virologically confirmed disease. This suggests that that the "suspected" group may have been contaminated by other viral etiologies, most notably RSV bronchiolitis.

Dong Y et. al. Pediatrics. 2020 Mar 17

#pediatrics #epidemiology #infectious diseases

01.04.2020

A Trial of Lopinavir-Ritonavir in Adults Hospitalized with Severe Covid-19.

199 hospitalized individuals in China with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection and signs of respiratory impairment were randomized (1:1) to receive LPV/r for 14 days or standard of care alone. No difference in time to clinical improvement or mortality was found between the 2 groupes.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

The majority of participants were late in infection adn there was limited power to evaluate the potential benefits of LPV/r in early disease

Cao et al. N Engl J Med. 2020 Mar 18

#treatment #ICU #infectious diseases

01.04.2020

Comorbidity and its impact on 1590 patients with Covid-19 in China: A Nationwide Analysis

In a nationwide analysis of 1590 hospitalized patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection across China, the number of comorbidities (mainly hypertension , diabetes and malignancy) was associated with the composite primary endpoint (admission to intensive care unit, or invasive ventilation, or death). The HR was 1.79 (95%CI 1.16-2.77) among patients with at least one comorbidity and 2.59 (95%CI 1.61-4.17) among patients with two or more comorbidities.

Comment Taskforce Knowledge-Management Covid-19

Despite a relatively short follow-up time and the self-reported nature of information on comorbidities, this study shows that a thorough assessment of comorbidities may help establish risk stratification of patients with Covid-19 upon hospital admission.

Guan et al. Eur Respir J 2020 Mar 26

#clinical #infectious diseases