TWiV 1162: Clinical Update with Dr. Daniel Griffin - Summary
0:54 Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infections Increasing: The CDC reports an increase in cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, also known as "walking pneumonia." Diagnosis requires awareness and testing as it can cause significant illness.
1:46 Polio Vaccination Campaign in North Gaza Postponed: Violence and displacement in North Gaza have forced the postponement of a critical polio vaccination campaign targeting over 119,000 children.
2:44 First Imported Mpox Clade 1B Case in the UK: London has identified its first imported case of the Clade 1B Mpox variant, making the UK the fifth country to report this strain.
3:04 Bavarian Nordic Starts Mpox Vaccine Trial for Children: Bavarian Nordic has initiated a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of their Mpox vaccine in children aged 2-11, primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
4:48 Marburg Virus Outbreak Update: The Marburg virus outbreak in Rwanda has seen an increase to 66 confirmed cases, with 15 deaths. The 30-39 age group is most affected.
5:47 Influenza Activity Remains Low: While influenza activity in the US is currently low, it's important to remember that seasonal influenza can cause a wide range of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths.
9:26 Mucosal Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) Levels in RSV Breakthrough Infections: Research indicates that lower mucosal levels of the RSV monoclonal antibody Nirmatrelvir may be associated with breakthrough RSV infections in young children.
12:31 COVID-19 Deaths Continue to Decline: COVID-19 death rates in the US are generally below 2%, with wastewater surveillance also showing a downward trend.
14:34 COVID-19 Vaccines and Mucosal Immunity: Studies exploring the impact of repeated mRNA COVID-19 vaccinations on mucosal immunity have yielded conflicting results. Some show an increase in mucosal neutralizing antibodies, while others indicate limited impact, particularly from the XBB.1.5 booster.
21:47 Risk of Facial Palsy After COVID-19 Vaccination: A study in South Korea found a slight increase in facial palsy (Bell's Palsy) within 28 days of COVID-19 vaccination, particularly after the first and second doses. However, the risk of facial palsy from COVID-19 infection itself is significantly higher.
28:26 Nirmatrelvir Plus Ritonavir (Paxlovid) Reduces Long COVID Symptoms: A study indicates that Paxlovid treatment is associated with a reduction in long COVID symptoms in adult outpatients, reinforcing its benefits beyond preventing severe disease.
30:50 Montelukast (Singulair) Ineffective for COVID-19 Treatment: A randomized clinical trial found no evidence to support the use of Montelukast (Singulair) in treating COVID-19.
32:14 Long COVID Impacts Physical Performance in Young Marines: A study of young, healthy US Marines found that a quarter developed long COVID symptoms lasting at least four weeks. Notably, these individuals experienced decreased physical performance, highlighting the potential long-term impacts of the virus.
43:36 Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Booster Frequency: With an increase in pertussis cases and waning immunity from the Tdap vaccine over time, the recommended 10-year booster interval may need reconsideration.
45:04 Eye Protection and COVID-19 Prevention: While primarily transmitted through inhalation, some evidence suggests that eye protection, such as larger glasses, may offer a degree of additional protection against COVID-19 infection, particularly in close contact situations.
46:46 Losartan (ARB) and COVID-19 Outcomes: While Losartan (an ARB) is not recommended as a COVID-19 treatment and may be associated with worse outcomes in acutely ill patients, there's no indication that individuals taking it for hypertension are at increased risk of severe COVID-19.