In asymptomatic adults, a COVID-19 Ag-RDT with combined nasal and throat samples had 82% to 89% positive percent agreement.

SOURCE CITATION: Goodall BL, LeBlanc JJ, Hatchette TF, et al. Investigating the sensitivity of nasal or throat swabs: combination of both swabs increases the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen tests. Microbiol Spectr. 2022;10:e0021722 35762772.

In men with rectal chlamydia, 7-d doxycycline increased microbiologic cure at 4 wk vs. 1-dose azithromycin.

SOURCE CITATION: Lau A, Kong FYS, Fairley CK, et al. Azithromycin or doxycycline for asymptomatic rectal chlamydia trachomatis. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:2418-27. 34161706.

In moderately severe CAP stable after 3 d of ß-lactam, stopping therapy was noninferior to 5 additional d.

SOURCE CITATION: Dinh A, Ropers J, Duran C, et al. Discontinuing ß-lactam treatment after 3 days for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in non-critical care wards (PTC): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2021;397:1195-1203. 33773631.

In adults and children, a rapid POC antigen test for COVID-19 (LumiraDx) had ≥97% sensitivity and specificity vs. RT-PCR.

SOURCE CITATION: Drain PK, Ampajwala M, Chappel C, et al. A rapid, high-sensitivity SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid immunoassay to aid diagnosis of acute COVID-19 at the point of care: a clinical performance study. Infect Dis Ther. 2021;10:753-61 33629225.

In adults and children in the ED with COVID-19 symptoms or a confirmed contact, a rapid POC antigen test had ≥72% sensitivity and ≥99% specificity vs. RT-PCR.

SOURCE CITATION: Möckel M, Corman VM, Stegemann MS, et al. SARS-CoV-2 antigen rapid immunoassay for diagnosis of COVID-19 in the emergency department. Biomarkers. 2021;26:213-20. 33455451.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Communities and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: A Call to Break the Cycle of Structural Barriers.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities. Many disparities mirror those of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS epidemic. These health inequities have repeated throughout history due to the structural oppression of LGBTQ+ people. We aim to demonstrate that the familiar patterns of LGBTQ+ health disparities reflect a perpetuating, deeply rooted cycle of injustice imposed on LGBTQ+ people. Here, we contextualize COVID-19 inequities through the history of the HIV/AIDS crisis, describe manifestations of LGBTQ+ structural oppression exacerbated by the pandemic, and provide recommendations for medical professionals and institutions seeking to reduce health inequities.

Fluoroquinolones vs. amoxicillin-clavulanate or ampicillin-sulbactam were not linked to aortic aneurysm or dissection.

SOURCE CITATION: Dong YH, Chang CH, Wang JL, et al. Association of infections and use of fluoroquinolones with the risk of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. JAMA Intern Med. 2020;180:1587-95. 32897358.

5 classes of antihypertensive drugs were not linked to positive COVID-19 test results or severe COVID-19.

SOURCE CITATION: Reynolds HR, Adhikari S, Pulgarin C, et al. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and risk of Covid-19. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:2441-8. 32356628.

Time of HIV Diagnosis and Engagement in Prenatal Care Impact Virologic Outcomes of Pregnant Women with HIV.

BACKGROUND: HIV suppression at parturition is beneficial for maternal, fetal and public health. To eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, an understanding of missed opportunities for antiretroviral therapy (ART) use during pregnancy and HIV suppression at delivery is required. METHODOLOGY: We performed a retrospective analysis of 836 mother-to-child pairs involving 656 HIV-infected women in Philadelphia, 2005-2013. Multivariable regression examined associations between patient (age, race/ethnicity, insurance status, drug use) and clinical factors such as adequacy of prenatal care measured by the Kessner index which classifies prenatal care as inadequate, intermediate, or adequate prenatal care; timing of HIV diagnosis; and the outcomes: receipt of ART during pregnancy and viral suppression at delivery. RESULTS: Overall, 25% of the sample was diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy; 39%, 38%, and 23% were adequately, intermediately, and inadequately engaged in prenatal care. Eight-five percent of mother-to-child pairs received ART during pregnancy but only 52% achieved suppression at delivery. Adjusting for patient factors, pairs diagnosed with HIV during pregnancy were less likely to receive ART (AOR 0.39, 95% CI 0.25-0.61) and achieve viral suppression (AOR 0.70, 95% CI 0.49-1.00) than those diagnosed before pregnancy. Similarly, women with inadequate prenatal care were less likely to receive ART (AOR 0.06, 95% CI 0.03-0.11) and achieve viral suppression (AOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.20-0.47) than those with adequate prenatal care. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions to diagnose HIV prior to pregnancy and engage HIV-infected women in prenatal care have the potential to improve HIV related outcomes in the perinatal period.