COVID-19: Pneumonia Guidance / Drop in Kids' Vaccines / Antigen Test

By Kelly Young

Edited by Susan Sadoughi, MD, and André Sofair, MD, MPH

Here are some of the latest developments on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19):

Community-acquired pneumonia: Authors of recent guidelines on community-acquired pneumonia offer new considerations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the guidance published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, procalcitonin testing could be useful in limiting antibiotic overuse in COVID-19 pneumonia. In addition, empirical antibiotic recommendations should be the same for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and community-acquired pneumonia, though the evidence is limited.

Drop in pediatric vaccinations: For Jan. 6 through April 19, orders for noninfluenza childhood and measles-containing vaccines were down compared with a similar period in 2019, according to an MMWR study. The decline began the week after the president declared a national emergency over COVID-19 on March 13. The number of doses of measles-containing vaccines that were administered experienced a similar drop. The fall was not as steep among children aged 24 months of age and under. In a statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics president urged parents to contact their pediatricians to schedule appointments for catch-up vaccines or well-child visits.

Antigen test approval: The FDA has approved the first antigen test for COVID-19. This test works faster and costs less than tests based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by detecting virus protein fragments. However, the antigen test is not as sensitive, so negative antigen test results may require confirmation with a PCR test.

Deaths in patients with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome: New York is reporting three deaths of children with pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome potentially linked to COVID-19. The state is investigating 85 potential cases, and cases have also been reported in other states.