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28.  2020, Sept 17:  Eli Lilly Neutralizing Antibodies: Breakthrough for COVID-19 Treatment?
Eli Lilly announced preliminary results to their SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody product, LY-CoV555, which was reported to have spectacular results with a 72% decrease in hospitalizations or ER visits when mildly or moderately symptomatic patients are given the drug within 3 days of diagnosis.
As observed in the Eli Lilly study, those newly diagnosed patients who are obese or have advanced age are the most likely to become hospitalized, and I feel initially this innovative product should be targeted toward these high-risk patients.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/eli-lilly-neutralizing-antibodies-breakthrough-for-covid-19-treatment
   
27.  Taking Aim at Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria During COVID - A review of the Fall 2020 PACCARB Meeting.
Patients afflicted with COVID-19 have an increased susceptibility to antibiotic resistant infections both from prolonged hospitalizations and the use of immunocompromising agents such as dexamethasone.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/taking-aim-at-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-during-covid
  
26.  Is COVID-19 Primarily a Heart and Vascular Diseases?
Thus, the once thought asymptomatic patients who luckily dodged a bullet and were spared from the ravages of the disease, may indeed be truly sick. A significant portion of them may develop myocarditis along with vascular vasodilation with resultant hypoxemia. This pathological process could easily be more significant than the pulmonary effects of the virus, since it is present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. And could explain the debilitating symptoms of fatigue and mental fog which “long-haulers” are experiencing, many of which had a mild initial illness. Infection Control Today.  Sept. 8, 2020.   https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/is-covid-19-primarily-a-heart-and-vascular-diseases
  
25.  Viewpoint: Infection Preventionist Guide to Dealing with COVID Misinformation
"It is imperative that infection preventionists engage and combat this messaging on social media and wherever it occurs. To not do so, allows misinformation to fan the pandemic, placing all of our lives at risk."
After one leave retorts to the misinformation, "you will notice that you have numerous exchanges with one individual. That this individual has left a junkyard full of highly complex and intwined web of misinformation. Yet for all of this work, when you go to the troll’s home page, it will most likely be blank. This tells you may be dealing with a professional. If the troll responded to you throughout the entire day, he may well be on a payroll." Sept. 7, 2020.  Infection Control Today.   https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-infection-preventionist-guide-to-dealing-with-covid-misinformation  
 
24.  Q&A: Flu Data Show Potency of Anti-COVID Tactics Like Masking, Hand Hygiene
Wear a mask, good hand hygiene, follow social distancing guidelines: The strategies just mentioned might snuff out COVID-19 in the long term, says Kavanagh, if everybody follows them. “But when you look at the flu, which isn’t as infectious, you would expect it to just annihilate that type of a pandemic and organism and that’s what we’re seeing in the Southern Hemisphere,” says Kavanagh. “Now, that of course is contingent that we follow this guidance, which as you know, is anywhere but universally accepted by the American public.”  Aug. 18, 2020.  Infection Control Today.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/q-and-a-flu-data-show-potency-of-anti-covid-tactics-like-masking-hand-hygiene 
 
23.  The 2020 Flu: Dud or Devastation, It is Up To You
"This year we have to do more than just rely on the flu vaccine. Avoiding the flu plus COVID-19 catastrophe is contingent on the US widely embracing public health guidance of wearing masks, meticulous hand hygiene and social distancing."  "If one looks at the data from the CDC, the flu became almost nonexistent in the United States by the end of March, with a very steep drop-off in cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) data from the Southern Hemisphere is even more surprising. Summer is their peak Flu season. But unlike previous years no viral specimens were submitted to the WHO from many countries during the Summer months."  Infection Control Today.  Aug. 18, 2020.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/the-2020-flu-dud-or-devastation-it-is-up-to-you 

• Link to related YouTube Video :  
  https://youtu.be/NUKCcPEoHzA  

• Download Slides and References: http://www.healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PDF-Downloads/20200818-Flu-Southeast-Asia-Handout.pdf    

22.  Infection Preventionists Might be Needed in Schools
Similar to our healthcare system as a whole, COVID-19 is shedding a light on deficiencies and the dearth of personal safeguards in our schools. Let us not forget, schools are a nidus for spreading the flu and other diseases. Opening schools should depend upon low rates of viral spread in the community, widespread testing, rigorous following of public health guidelines and upgrading the physical infrastructure of our buildings. COVID-19 should be viewed as an opportunity for transformation, allowing us to build a better school system with smaller class sizes for better education and implement strategies to prevent the spread of all infectious diseases.  Infection Control Today.  Aug. 10, 2020.

• https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/infection-preventionists-might-be-needed-in-schools 

• Detailed YouTube presentation:. https://www.youtube.com/embed/6Z3mh-TmMJs 

• YouTube Interview and Transcript:    https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/and-a-infection-preventionists-should-head-back-to-school 

21.  New Study: Hydroxychloroquine Works in Monkeys, Not Humans
Thus, at this point, there is no compelling evidence to recommend the use of hydroxychloroquine for clinical use and several large organizations have suspended research involving this drug. There has been an enormous amount of valuable scientific resources which have been devoted to answering this scientific, now political, issue. These resources would have been better spent on more promising treatment modalities, such as studying Camostat mesilate or nafamostat mesylate therapy for COVID-19, a compound which has been shown to block TMPRSS2 .  Infection Control Today.  Aug. 3, 2020.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/new-study-hydroxychloroquine-works-in-monkeys-not-humans   
  
20.  National Reporting System for All Dangerous Pathogens Needed
After decades of reluctance to implement a national reporting system, when COVID-19 came along we witnessed almost overnight the formulation of case definitions and comprehensive national reporting from all healthcare facilities.  A dangerous pathogen is a dangerous pathogen; we should not discriminate on our approach to COVID-19. The nursing home reporting policies for COVID-19 need to be adopted systemwide for all dangerous pathogens and our infrastructure permanently enhanced.  One may think that enhancement is a forgone conclusion. But we did not learn these lessons from the 1918 Spanish flu or from the Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreaks. Six months or 6 years after this epidemic our resolve may wane. IPs need to document their experiences and keep telling their stories so our memories of this horrific ordeal do not fade.  Infection Control Today.  July 20, 2020.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-experience-suggests-need-for-national-reporting-system-for-dangerous-pathogens  
    
19.  Viewpoint: Despite Happy Talk, We’re Far From Out of the COVID Woods
COVID-19 cases in many states have risen and the false narrative is that this is because of increased testing. But the rise in cases far outstrips the rise in testing... the young are not shielded from the viruses’ devastating effects. We need to take this pandemic seriously, the public needs to wear masks and practice social distancing. As stated by Avindra Nath, MD, the senior investigator at the Section of Infections of the Nervous System at National Institutes of Health: “It’s quite possible some will never get their health back." Infection Control Today.  June 22, 2020. 
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-despite-happy-talk-we-re-far-from-out-of-the-covid-woods 

18.  COVID-19 Experience Suggests Need for National Reporting System for Dangerous Pathogens
It is of utmost importance to screen healthcare staff and patients for dangerous pathogens along with the establishment of a national tracking system. The nursing home reporting policies for COVID-19 need to be adopted system wide for all dangerous pathogens and our infrastructure permanently enhanced.  One may think that enhancement is a forgone conclusion. But we did not learn these lessons from the 1918 Spanish flu or from the Ebola, SARS or MERS outbreaks. Six months or six years after this epidemic our resolve may wane. IPs need to document their experiences and keep telling their stories so our memories of this horrific ordeal do not fade.  Infection Control Today.  June 8, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-experience-suggests-need-national-reporting-system-dangerous-pathogens     
 
17.  Reopening After COVID-19 Needs to be Done Carefully
Kevin Kavanagh, MD, the board chairman of the patient advocacy group Health Watch USA^sm, talks to Infection Control Today about the perils of reopening too quickly and the value of cloth masks. "What worries me the most about reopening is that people are going to say, 'Oh, it's over with' and not do any sort of protection, whether it's social distancing, wearing masks, not gathering in crowds. I really think that people will think, 'Well, we got this beat.'"  Infection Control Today.  May 28, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/qa-reopening-after-covid-19-proceed-caution   
 
16.  Why the Public Should Wear Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Initially, the public was advised not to wear masks. However, this was before the importance of asymptomatic transmission was known. Recent studies have also underscored the growing importance of person-to-person transmission through the air. Guidance changed. It is now recommended for the public to wear cotton masks. This guidance is not intended to protect the wearer, but to help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others if they are an unknown asymptomatic carrier.   Infection Control Today.  May 27, 2020.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/why-public-should-wear-masks-during-covid-19-pandemic 
  
15.  When COVID-19 Knocks on Nursing Homes’ Doors, Systemic Problems Welcome It.
"Despite nursing homes becoming a nidus of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs), the regulations for staffing infection preventionists (IPs) at nursing homes are far too lax. Nursing homes should have a full-time IP. Presently the regulations only specify a part-time IP without a specific required time commitment. In view of the large number of nursing home residents and the high drug-resistant carriage rate, a full-time position is certainly needed."  Infection Control Today.  May 7, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/when-covid-19-knocks-nursing-homes-doors-systemic-problems-welcome-it    
  
14.  Viewpoint: COVID-19 Modeling: Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics.
"We have now received our fourth projection on deaths. I'm not sure if it will be right or wrong, but the others have proven to not be correct, so I'm not hopeful for this one. That is actually good news because the last projection doubles the number of expected deaths to 134,475 by Aug 4, 2020."   Infection Control Today.  May 6, 2020.   https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/
viewpoint-covid-19-modeling-lies-damn-lies-and-statistics 
   
13.  Viewpoint: Have You Heard About the Herd? It’s a COVID-19 Fallacy.
"Strategies of social distancing, not gathering in large crowds, wearing masks and protecting those at increased risk are required to manage this epidemic. Returning to life as usual with the dependence on herd immunity in a non-vaccinated population to control spread is almost certainly a false narrative."  Infection Control Today.  April 29, 2020.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-have-you-heard-about-herd-its-covid-19-fallacy  
 
12.  Kevin Kavanagh & Lindsay Calderon. Lessons of the Hydroxychloroquine Debacle: Solid COVID-19 Research Matters.
"In the new reality of making decisions with limited and incomplete data, it is important that decision makers and scientists are free from biases.  Biases can be financial and even geopolitical pressure created by the huge trade war and divisive rhetoric between the United States and China. In a time of great national fear and stress, we must be careful in both reporting and interpreting messaging, including the results of unconfirmed research. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of HCQ for unproven benefits, since these are powerful drugs which may also cause harm."
Infection Control Today.  April 26, 2020. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/lessons-hydroxychloroquine-debacle-solid-covid-19-research-matters   
    
11 .   Viewpoint: CDC's Changing Guidance Underscores How COVID-19 Keeps Winning.
"Needless to say, additional PPE is desperately needed, hopefully both increased manufacturing and sterilization techniques will relieve the shortage. In addition, the strategy adopted by New York State to designate some facilities to exclusively treat COVID-19 patients and others for non-COVID-19 patients to help improve patient safety should be adopted in other areas of the nation.   We must make protecting our frontline healthcare workers and patients a priority. Rapid testing will go a long way in assuring the safety of patients by identifying asymptomatic carriers in healthcare workers and staff."  Infection Control Today.  April 15, 2020. https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-cdcs-changing-guidance-underscores-how-covid-19-keeps-winning   

  
10.  Viewpoint: As COVID-19 Spreads, Where's All the Money Hospitals Have Made?/em>
"There is no excuse for running a system which is lean on hospital rooms, supplies and staff. Net-profits and assets are desirable, but not at the expense of public safety. Hospital staff are being asked to see patients under draconian conditions and at the same time they do not have an adequate economic and healthcare safety net. Healthcare workers do not need paid sick leave, they need adequate PPE and worker's compensation benefits, if they become infected. IPs are placing both themselves and their families' lives at grave risk under the crisis management CDC infectious disease recommendations. That is the very least we can do for them."   Infection Control Today(redacted version).  April 10, 2020:  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-covid-19-spreads-where%E2%80%99s-all-money-hospitals-have-made