News

COVID-19 mRNA vaccine effectiveness wanes even faster during Omicron than during Delta variant predominance, but a booster dose still provides lasting defense against COVID-19 hospitalization and death.

A study of patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease progression found ivermectin was no more effective than standard care at preventing adverse outcomes.

Regular symptom screening revealed completely asymptomatic COVID-19 infection is highly unlikely among unvaccinated people.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, oral treatment options for at-home use are in demand to provide early intervention and reduce the progression to severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

The varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus has been essentially eradicated thanks to the vaccine developed by Japanese virologist Dr. Michiaki Takahashi, who would have been 94 years old today.

Investigators looked at myocardial infarction risks over several years within 2 health care systems examining both people with HIV (PWH) and people without HIV (PWoH).

Investigators examined the efficacy and safety of carbapenems vs select novel antibiotics for treatment of cUTI.

The investigational therapy has demonstrated promising results utilizing subcutaneous injections every 6 months.

Hispanic/Latino people face disproportionately high HIV incidence, but one CROI 2022 study found those not born in the US are more likely to have stage 3 HIV (AIDS) diagnoses.

Due to policies rolling out HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and commencing antiretroviral therapy at diagnosis, the UK is on track to eliminate new HIV infections among gay and bisexual men in approximately 25 years.

For people living with HIV (PLWH) an accelerated aging process may affect the severity of their disease.

This nitroimidazole antibiotic is shown to be efficacious for this condition.

After presenting at CROI 2022, Dr. Jessica Justman discusses her community-level survey findings: COVID-19 infections do not vary by age.

A study found 5% of German test-site visitors had a sexually transmitted infection. STI rates, including HIV incidence, were highest among men who have sex with men.

This patient is the first mixed race woman to experience HIV-1 remission, and potentially opens up the door to others being treated with a novel treatment.

Black patients enrolled in an LA Medical Care Coordination program were less likely to achieve viral suppression than HIV-positive people of other races.

The idea of a future with COVID-19 is settling in, and building strategies that improve quality of life as we live with this viral disease are paramount.

Though HIV diagnoses have declined overall, new infections still disproportionately occur in certain racial, ethic, gender, and geographic populations.

Investigators found a couple of different factors for this phenomenon.

In a global cohort, more than 1 in 3 people living with HIV reported functional impairments. Functional impairment was more common among HIV-positive people who were older, Black, or female.

Data shown in the Pinetree clinical trial and being presented with 2 posters at CROI demonstrate both benefits and safety in preventing progression to more severe disease.

In a study of people living with HIV in Taiwan, COVID-19 vaccination was highly effective when implemented alongside non-pharmaceutical interventions.

A research agenda focusing on breakthrough infections, reinfections, severity, and sequelae is needed to inform clinical practice when COVID-19 emphasis shifts from eradication to living with the disease.

Investigators looked to see if this population might be candidates for this form of HIV prevention.

One study presented at CROI 2022 found that HIV PrEP awareness increased among Latinx/Hispanic men who have sex with men, but usage has remained relatively stable for several years.

Boston’s Fenway Health looked at testing and prevention trends during 3 phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Convalescent plasma safely raised antibody levels in children at high risk of severe or fatal COVID-19, successfully neutralizing the virus but unlikely to provide lasting protection.

This decision was based from the analysis of the company’s phase 2 BLAZE-4 trial.

Pfizer-BioNTech previously asked for FDA approval to administer its COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months-4 years of age, but has deferred the request after reviewing more data.

In this latest episode of Contagion Community, we interview Dr. Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir about vaccine equality vs vaccine equity as well as her experience on a COVID-19 vaccine drive to increase vaccinations in communities of color.