COVID-19: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome / Risk Factors & Distress in Healthcare Workers / Llama Antibodies

By Amy Orciari Herman

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM

Take a look at some of the latest developments on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

Pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome: At least 50 children in New York City and on Long Island, New York, have developed a multisystem inflammatory syndrome related to COVID-19, the New York Times reports. The cases first emerged about a month after a surge in COVID-19 in the region, suggesting "it's a post-infectious immune response," one pediatrician said. Most cases have tested positive either for SARS-CoV-2 or for antibodies to the virus. The syndrome includes persistent fever and features of Kawasaki disease or toxic shock. Many of the children have been admitted to intensive care, where they've received cardiac or respiratory support. None have died. U.K. health officials last week warned clinicians to be on the lookout for this syndrome. The Times notes that cases have also been reported elsewhere in the U.S.

Risk factors & psychological distress in healthcare workers: Risk factors for COVID-19 in healthcare workers include insufficient handwashing, longer work hours, and improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), according to a review in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Additionally, the researchers found that depression, anxiety, and psychological distress have all been common among workers during the pandemic. Separately, a review in The BMJ also found high levels of psychological distress among healthcare workers during outbreaks of novel viruses, particularly among younger and junior workers and those with dependent children. Clear communication with staff, sufficient access to PPE, and adequate rest were all associated with reduced psychological morbidity.

Llama antibodies: For those of you looking for some potential good news: researchers in Belgium have found that antibodies from a llama (named Winter) immunized with coronavirus proteins were able to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in cell cultures. The study in Cell and a related New York Times story are linked below.