COVID-19 among infants: key clinical features and remaining controversies.

Infants aged <1 year represent a seemingly more susceptible pediatric subset for infections. Despite this, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has not been proven as more serious in this age group (outside the very early neonatal period) than in others. Indeed, a considerable number of asymptomatic infections have been recorded, and the symptoms and morbidity associated with COVID- 19 differ minimally from those of other respiratory viral infections.

Disinfection and decontamination in the context of SARS-CoV-2-specific data.

Given the high transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as witnessed early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, concerns arose with the existing methods for virus disinfection and decontamination. The need for SARS-CoV-2-specific data stimulated considerable research in this regard. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 is practically and equally susceptible to approaches for disinfection and decontamination that have been previously found for other human or animal coronaviruses.

Non-primate animal models for pertussis: back to the drawing board?

Despite considerable progress in the understanding of clinical pertussis, the contemporary emergence of antimicrobial resistance for Bordetella pertussis and an evolution of concerns with acellular component vaccination have both sparked a renewed interest. Although simian models of infection best correlate with the observed attributes of human infection, several animal models have been used for decades and have positively contributed in many ways to the related science. Nevertheless, there is yet the lack of a reliable small animal model system that mimics the combination of infection genesis, variable upper and lower respiratory infection, systemic effects, infection resolution, and vaccine responses.

Passive Immunity Should and Will Work for COVID-19 for Some Patients.

In the absence of effective antiviral chemotherapy and still in the context of emerging vaccines for severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV-2 infections, passive immunotherapy remains a key treatment and possible prevention strategy. What might initially be conceived as a simplified donor-recipient process, the intricacies of donor plasma, IV immunoglobulins, and monoclonal antibody modality applications are becoming more apparent. Key targets of such treatment have largely focused on virus neutralization and the specific viral components of the attachment Spike protein and its constituents (e.

Untangling the Intricacies of Infection, Thrombosis, Vaccination, and Antiphospholipid Antibodies for COVID-19.

Advanced SARS-CoV-2 infections not uncommonly associate with the occurrence of silent or manifest thrombotic events which may be found as focal or systemic disease. Given the potential complexity of COVID-19 illnesses, a multifactorial causation is likely, but several studies have focused on infection-induced coagulopathy. Procoagulant states are commonly found in association with the finding of antiphospholipid antibodies.

The Complexity of Co-Infections in the Era of COVID-19.

The current frequency of COVID-19 in a pandemic era ensures that co-infections with a variety of co-pathogens will occur. Generally, there is a low rate of bonafide co-infections in early COVID-19 pulmonary infection as currently appreciated. Reports of high co-infection rates must be tempered by limitations in current diagnostic methods since amplification technologies do not necessarily confirm live pathogen and may be subject to considerable laboratory variation.

In pursuit of the right tail for the COVID-19 incubation period.

Definition of the incubation period for COVID-19 is critical for implementing quarantine and thus infection control. Whereas the classical definition relies on the time from exposure to time of first symptoms, a more practical working definition is the time from exposure to time of first live virus excretion. For COVID-19, average incubation period times commonly span 5-7 days which are generally longer than for most typical other respiratory viruses.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Maternal and Newborn Disease and Related Control for COVID-19.

The maternal-fetal/newborn unit is established at risk for COVID-19 infection. This narrative review summarizes the contemporary and cumulative publications which detail maternal infection, antenatal and newborn infections, and maternal/fetal/newborn management and prevention. There is a wide spectrum of maternal disease, but the potential for severe disease albeit in a minority is confirmed.

Pharmacotherapy for Bordetella pertussis infection. II. A synthesis of clinical sciences.

Despite the plethora of studies that have examined laboratory susceptibility testing for Bordetella pertussis, assessments of treatment have lagged far behind both in quality and quantity. Macrolides and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole historically served the needs of both treatment and prevention, albeit there is still controversy about the degree of protection measured both bacteriologically and clinically. As high-level macrolide resistance has emerged in some geographic regions and since macrolides have been the mainstay of therapy, alternative antibiotics need to be defined for pertussis.

Pharmacotherapy for Bordetella pertussis infection. I. A synthesis of laboratory sciences.

There is considerable history and practice experience both with laboratory susceptibility testing for Bordetella pertussis and clinical treatment. This two-part narrative review provides a synthesis of the laboratory and clinical sciences as they apply to this bacterium and the clinical consequences of treating infection. It is generally held that antibiotic susceptibility testing for B.