Browse Viral Infections Articles by Topic

The Health and Economic Burden of Long COVID in the United States

Researchers using a computational simulation model found that the current health and economic burden of long COVID already exceeds the cost of several chronic diseases and will continue to grow as COVID-19 cases increase.

Influenza and Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy in Children

Of 41 U.S. pediatric patients with influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalitis, 56% were female, the median age was 5 years, and 12% had underlying complex medical conditions. Influenza A accounted for 95% of cases. Despite the use of a variety of immunomodulating agents, 27% of these children died, and 63% of the survivors were left with at least moderate disability.

Do Gowns Help Prevent Transmission of Respiratory Viruses?

The authors examined various studies to look at the effectiveness of different kinds of gowns and materials in preventing viral infections. The results were mixed, with most studies demonstrating no good evidence that gowning helps in this regard.

Lenacapavir Injection and Tablets (Yeztugo)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved lenacapavir, a potent, first-in-class, capsid inhibitor, for reducing the risk of sexually acquired human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Restricting Remdesivir in an Immune Era: No Harm, Big Savings

A quasi-experimental, eight-hospital, pre-post restriction of remdesivir to only symptomatic, oxygen-requiring, immunocompromised adults during July 2023 to June 2024 led to a 90% reduction in remdesivir use (37.7% to 4.1%) without any increase in 14- or 28-day all-cause mortality, 30-day readmission, or hospital length of stay. Medium- and high-risk covariate models confirmed no mortality signal, while an intriguing rise in intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation use among the few post-intervention recipients was most consistent with residual confounding and confounding by indication (i.e., the sickest patients being channeled to receive therapy). In an era of widespread hybrid immunity from Omicron-descended variants, broad remdesivir formulary restriction can be implemented safely and can yield substantial cost savings without compromising outcomes.

Patients Hospitalized for Non-Severe COVID-19: No Benefit of CAP Antibiotics

A large population-based, retrospective, cohort study found there was no benefit for antibiotics targeting community-acquired pneumonia in patients hospitalized with non-severe COVID-19. These results provide evidence against antibiotic use in this population.

Pemivibart for COVID-19 Prophylaxis: Clinical Trial Confirms its Efficacy

Confirming the results of the immunobridging analysis that led to its initial authorization for emergency use, this study demonstrates that pemivibart is effective as prophylaxis against COVID-19, including in immunocompromised patients.

Patients Hospitalized for Nonsevere COVID-19: No Benefit of CAP Antibiotics

A large population-based, retrospective, cohort study found there was no benefit for antibiotics targeting community-acquired pneumonia in patients hospitalized with nonsevere COVID-19. These results provide evidence against antibiotic use in this population.

Measles Outbreaks in the United States

Several measles outbreaks have been active in the United States, with more than 1,000 cases reported already in 2025. Most outbreaks begin as unvaccinated individuals in the United States come into contact with an infected individual who has recently arrived after international travel. Vaccination is effective, but current U.S. vaccine coverage rates are below the 95% rate considered necessary to provide herd immunity.

Restricting Remdesivir in an Immune Era: No Harm, Big Savings

A quasi-experimental, eight-hospital, pre-post restriction of remdesivir to only symptomatic, oxygen-requiring, immunocompromised adults during July 2023 to June 2024 led to a 90% reduction in remdesivir use (37.7% to 4.1%) without any increase in 14- or 28-day all-cause mortality, 30-day readmission, or hospital length of stay. Medium- and high-risk covariate models confirmed no mortality signal, while an intriguing rise in intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation use among the few post-intervention recipients was most consistent with residual confounding and confounding by indication (i.e., the sickest patients being channeled to receive therapy). In an era of widespread hybrid immunity from Omicron-descended variants, broad remdesivir formulary restriction can be implemented safely and can yield substantial cost savings without compromising outcomes.