SARS-CoV-2 literature review April 2 – April 10, 2020

Dear colleague,

Our weekly FOAMed Quiz is suspended until further notice. 

However, quite a large body of evidence is published weekly on COVID-19. Evidence that might help us and our patients get through the upcoming weeks to months.

These are the best FOAMed resources and most useful papers of the last 7 days.

The following papers deserve some additional attention or are not yet covered in the FOAM society.

Paper 1

Title: The use of high-flow nasal oxygen in COVID-19

Author: Lyons, C.

Publication date: April 4, 2020

Journal: Anaesthesia

 

Aim: Explaining why High-Flow Nasal Oxygen could well be an appropriate therapy for COVID-19. 

Conclusion: ‘’The COVID-19 pandemic has evoked an understandable sense of vulnerability in healthcare workers. Clinicians should remain open-minded that HFNO may be an appropriate therapy for many patients for whom tracheal intubation has not yet become a necessity but for whom low-flow nasal oxygen or facemask oxygen is not providing adequate respiratory support.’’


Link to paper: The use of high‐flow nasal oxygen in COVID‐19

Paper 2

Title: Prediction of Number of Cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Using Social Media Search Index

Author: Qin, L.

Publication date: Apr 5, 2020

Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,

 

Aim: This study investigated the correlation between the number of new cases of COVID-19 and the search index for a popular social network in China

Methods: Social media search indexes (SMSI) for dry cough, fever, chest distress, coronavirus, and pneumonia to predict new suspected COVID-19 case numbers from 20 January 2020 to 9 February 2020. 

Results:  The new suspected COVID-19 case numbers correlated significantly with the lagged series of SMSI. SMSI could be detected 6–9 days earlier than new suspected cases of COVID-19.

Conclusion: SMSI could be an effective early predictor for the number of COVID-19 infections.

Link to paper: Prediction of Number of Cases of 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Using Social Media Search Index

Paper 3

Title: Baseline Characteristics and Outcomes of 1591 Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2 Admitted to ICUs of the Lombardy Region, Italy

Author: Grasselli, G.

Publication date: April 6, 2020

Journal: JAMA

 

Aim: What are the baseline characteristics and outcomes of patients with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Lombardy, Italy?

Methods / Results: Retrospective case series that involved 1591 critically ill patients 

The majority were older men, a large proportion required mechanical ventilation and high levels of PEEP, and ICU mortality was 26%.

Link to paper: Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Infected With SARS-CoV-2 Admitted to ICUs in Italy 

Paper 4

Title: Pre-proof: A first Case of Meningitis/Encephalitis associated with SARS-Coronavirus-2

Author: Moriguchi, T.

Publication date: April 3, 2020

Journal: International Journal of Infectious Diseases

 

Aim: This is the first case of meningitis associated with SARS-CoV-2 who was brought in by ambulance.

Highlight: This patient had transient generalized seizures and obvious neck stiffness The specific SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in the nasopharyngeal swab but was detected in a CSF.

Link to paper: A first Case of Meningitis/Encephalitis associated with SARS-Coronavirus-2

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