Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Research Roundup: Covid In The NBA; Diabetes; Malaria; C-Sections; Sepsis
JAMA Network: SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk Among National Basketball Association Players, Staff, And Vendors Exposed To Individuals With Positive Test Results After COVID-19 Recovery During The 2020 Regular And Postseason
Do individuals who have clinically recovered from COVID-19 but continue to test positive still transmit SARS-CoV-2? In this cohort study of 3648 participants, data were collected during the resumption of the 2020 National Basketball Association season in a closed environment. Individuals who recovered clinically from COVID-19 but continued to test positive did not transmit SARS-CoV-2 to others, despite close proximity with susceptible individuals. (Mack et al, 4/22)
CIDRAP: Pediatric Diabetes Complications Rose During Pandemic In LA Hospital
Pediatric rates of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a complication of type 2 diabetes that can lead to death, rose during the pandemic at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), according to a study published yesterday in Diabetes Care. The researchers compared medical records from March to August in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and found that DKA in new-onset type 2 diabetes increased by 20% in 2020, compared with 9% in 2018 and 3% in 2019. Overall, 44, 66, and 82 children had new-onset type 2 diabetes in 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively, and DKA was found in 4, 2, and 16, respectively. Age at diagnosis, sex, and high BMI were not significant variables. (4/27)
CIDRAP: Phase 2 Trial Shows High Efficacy For Malaria Vaccine Candidate
The results of a phase 2b clinical trial indicate 77% efficacy over 12 months of follow-up for a vaccine that targets malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum, according to a preprint study published this week in The Lancet. (4/23)
New England Journal of Medicine: Tranexamic Acid For The Prevention Of Blood Loss After Cesarean Delivery
Prophylactic administration of tranexamic acid has been associated with reduced postpartum blood loss after cesarean delivery in several small trials, but evidence of its benefit in this clinical context remains inconclusive. (Sentilhes et al, 4/29)
CIDRAP: CARB-X To Fund Development Rapid Diagnostic Test For Sepsis
CARB-X announced today that it is awarding up to $3 million to GenomeKey of Bristol, United Kingdom, to develop an innovative rapid diagnostic test for sepsis. GenomeKey's diagnostic project uses technology that combines innovative methods to separate bacterial DNA from human DNA in whole blood with next-generation DNA sequencing and machine learning to interpret antimicrobial susceptibility. The aim is determine, within 4 hours, what bacteria are causing the infection in sepsis patients and which antibiotics would be most effective. Conventional laboratory tests take 24 to 73 hours to produce results. 4/27)
