COVID-19

It’s been five years since the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020. This global health crisis fundamentally reshaped clinical laboratories, accelerating advancements in diagnostic testing capabilities, capacity, and automation.

Respiratory illnesses remain a major public health challenge, and the COVID-19 pandemic only magnified the need for fast, accurate diagnostic testing.

bioMérieux experts discuss how microbial identification and susceptibility testing can enhance antimicrobial stewardship and improve patient outcomes post-COVID.

The BIOFIRE® BCID2 Panel uses rapid PCR technology to identify pathogens and resistance genes, improving antimicrobial stewardship, patient outcomes, and reducing hospital stay.

EHR-based data shows SARS-CoV-2–associated sepsis was more severe and frequent than bacterial sepsis early in the pandemic, highlighting tracking gaps.

Discover key reasons why pharmacies and labs should collaborate to enhance healthcare services, address provider shortages, and improve patient outcomes.

Research reveals that the HLA-B*15:01 allele may be linked to asymptomatic COVID-19 infection, potentially due to pre-existing T-cell immunity from previous coronaviruses.

Explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning are advancing the fight against infectious diseases, aiding in drug discovery, diagnostics, and outbreak control.

Results from the Society of Critical Care Medicine Discovery VIRUS international COVID-19 Registry aim to determine the rate and factors associated with early empiric antibiotic (EEAB) treatment to help set goals for antimicrobial stewardship efforts, in the post-pandemic era.

Innovative space planning is essential for lab safety, efficiency, and success, ensuring productivity and improved diagnostic outcomes

A review of 148 studies links COVID-19 hospital surges to rising antimicrobial resistance, with 60.8% of bacterial co-infections resistant to treatment.

According to predictions from professor and practicing intensivist, Dr. Hannah Wunsch, war, multidrug resistance, climate change, emerging diseases, and reduced confidence in vaccination will be among the factors that influence an expected increase in infectious diseases in the ICU.

In this article, Brian Raux, PharmD, discusses the global impact COVID-19 has had on the rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and the alarming increase of hospital-acquired infections (HAI). 

COVID-19 may have accelerated AMR, highlighting the need for diagnostics and antimicrobial stewardship to manage bacterial coinfections

Explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on antimicrobial stewardship programs and pneumonia diagnosis in this series featuring expert insights.

Explore a study on the severity of COVID-19 in infants under 3 months, comparing symptoms, outcomes, and antimicrobial stewardship approaches in this vulnerable group

Study reveals that inflammatory proteins in COVID-19 patients' blood may disrupt neurogenesis, leading to cognitive symptoms like delirium and memory loss.

The CDC's 2022 special report reveals a rise in multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) in U.S. hospitals during COVID-19, highlighting the impact of increased antimicrobial use.

Explore the comparison of clinical sepsis phenotypes in critically ill COVID-19 patients and implications for predicting outcomes, treatment, and personalized medicine.

Learn about a study comparing baricitinib and dexamethasone for COVID-19 treatment in hospitalized patients, featuring insights from bioMérieux's Katherine Perez, PharmD.

Explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare-associated infections with Lisa Sturm, as she shares insights on hospital-onset bloodstream infections and HAI reduction

This white paper urges a whole-system approach to infection detection, prevention, and management to combat antimicrobial resistance.

COVID-19 disrupted maternal care routines; expert Chris Groke explores short- and long-term impacts on mothers, infants, and future care practices.

Learn how genetic variants in severely ill COVID-19 patients may explain differences in illness severity.

Learn how RNA reference materials can standardize COVID-19 PCR tests, improving result comparability between labs and aiding in better assay harmonization

Omicron-driven staffing shortages are straining U.S. medical labs, threatening test capacity and clinical decision-making, says expert Rodney E. Rohde.

Dr. Allison Weinmann discusses the impact of COVID-19 on antimicrobial stewardship and prescribing trends in APIC's 5-Second Rule podcast.

COVID-19 highlights the need for global collaboration in monitoring and combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through shared data and surveillance.

A systematic review shows COVID-19 ICU patients often meet sepsis criteria, highlighting the need for targeted treatments and policies for future pandemics.

Discover how UPMC established a network for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy across hospitals and facilities, overcoming logistical and infection prevention challenges

Experts explore how diagnostics help combat COVID-19 bacterial co-infections while addressing the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance.

Learn about the long-term effects of COVID-19, including persistent symptoms and decreased quality of life, with insights from expert Christopher Bland, PharmD

IDSA updates COVID-19 guidelines to recommend tocilizumab for patients requiring oxygen and experiencing inflammation, following clinical trial results

A study shows a 79% decline in ambulatory antibiotic prescriptions for respiratory infections, linked to rapid diagnostics for COVID-19 and influenza.

Research at Massachusetts General Hospital reveals how severe COVID-19 linked to sepsis shows higher activity of MS1 cells

Learn about combo tests for COVID-19 and the flu, as experts like Dr. Mark Miller discuss their importance for accurate infectious disease management.

Discover the analytical and clinical performance of VIDAS® SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG serology tests for accurate COVID-19 antibody detection.

A hospital surveillance system combines viral genome sequencing with staff and patient movement data to track COVID-19 spread and improve infection control.

We invite you to download and share this comprehensive infographic to educate patients about the importance of infection prevention measures and the appropriate use of antimicrobials.

Discover how a 1960s breakthrough in Yellowstone led to the development of PCR tests, crucial for diagnosing COVID-19 and revolutionizing biology.

Listen to Dr. Michael Osterholm, COVID-19 advisor, discuss SARS-CoV-2 immunity estimates, vaccine supply, and demand in this CIDRAP podcast episode.