Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Falling Case Fatality Rate Means COVID Battle Entering New Phase, Experts Say
The Hill: COVID-19 Fatality Rates Fall As Treatments Improve
The percentage of those infected with the coronavirus who die of COVID-19 is falling in most states, a sign that the battle against the virus is entering a new phase. Across the nation, that percentage — known as the case fatality rate — has been on the decline for weeks, and in some states for months. It is a hopeful indicator, but one that health experts caution is layered with uncertainty. (Wilson, 8/20)
Reuters: Singapore Scientists Find Coronavirus Variant With Milder Infections
Researchers in Singapore have discovered a new variant of the COVID-19 coronavirus that causes milder infections, according to a study published in The Lancet medical journal this week. The study showed that COVID-19 patients infected with a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 had better clinical outcomes, including a lower proportion developing low blood oxygen or requiring intensive care. (8/21)
CIDRAP: COVID-19 Not Likely Passed From Moms To Babies Through Breast Milk
University of California researchers studying the breast milk of 18 women with COVID-19 found coronavirus RNA—but not live virus—in 1 of 64 samples, suggesting that babies aren't likely to be infected through that route. The research letter, published yesterday in JAMA, described studying self-collected and mailed samples and clinical data gathered through phone interviews from Mar 27 to May 6. The mothers' babies ranged in age from newborn to 19 months, and each mother provided 1 to 12 breast milk samples. (8/20)
CIDRAP: Study Finds Antibiotic Time-Outs Not Tied To Lower Overall Antibiotic Use
Implementation of a pharmacist-led antibiotic time-out (ATO) at an academic medical center was feasible and well-accepted, but did not change overall antibiotic use, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center reported today in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. In the two-phased cluster-randomized study, three academic inpatient medical teams were randomly selected in the first phase (ATO-A) to implement the pharmacist-led time-out, in which initial antibiotic therapy in a patient is reassessed, and three teams maintained usual care (UC-A). In phase B, the usual-care teams implemented the ATO process (UC ATO-B), while ATO use continued in the other group (ATO-B). (8/20)
