Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2021/12/news-scan-dec-20-2021
News Scan for Dec 20, 2021
COVID-19 and acute kidney injury; H5N1 avian flu in fox, wild birds
Filed Under:
COVID-19; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
COVID ICU patients with acute kidney injury at higher risk for death
A small observational study presented over the weekend at the online Euroanaesthesia conference suggests that, of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), those with acute kidney injury (AKI) are more likely to die in the hospital than those with a history of kidney disease.
According to a press release from study sponsor, The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care (ESAIC), the study also showed that dialysis doesn't appreciably increase the chances of survival.
Austrian researchers retrospectively studied all 129 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at two ICUs in Vienna from Sep 1, 2020, to Feb 15, 2021. Median patient age was 66.5 years, and two-thirds were men.
Thirty-three patients had a history of kidney disease, 26 were previously healthy kidney patients who developed AKI 5 days after ICU admission, and 70 patients had normal kidney function before and during their ICU stay. Thirty-two patients required dialysis.
Among the 33 patients with pre-existing kidney disease, 55% survived their ICU stay, compared with 46% of those diagnosed as having AKI and 83% of the patients who maintained normal kidney function.
The two groups of patients with impaired kidney dysfunction had significantly lower odds of survival than average, for a higher risk of death than those with normal kidney function. The findings suggest that neither early initiation of dialysis nor the number of days on dialysis had much survival benefit, the authors said.
Lead author Katharina Oberneder, MD, of Sigmund Freud University, said the results indicate that kidney dysfunction is a key risk factor for death related to COVID-19 in ICU patients. "Ultimately, what is most important is focusing on the early diagnosis of acute kidney dysfunction and how we can use these results to improve the care of critically ill COVID-19 patients," she said.
Dec 17 ESAIC press release
H5N1 avian flu found in Estonian fox and water birds in France, Hong Kong
Three jurisdictions reported highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu in populations other than poultry, including a fox, zoo birds, and wild birds, according to the latest notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Estonia reported high-pathogenic H5N1 in a dead wild red fox found in Hiiu province on Hiiumaa island off the country's western Baltic coast. Results were confirmed on Nov 24. The report said the animal probably contracted the virus from other wild species.
Elsewhere in Europe, France reported H5N1 in pink-backed pelicans at a zoo in Occitanie province in the country's southwest. The zoo keeps birds in both aviaries and in open-air settings, including on a pond, which is close to a wetland. The event began on Dec 14 and killed 3 of 65 susceptible birds.
In Asia, Hong Kong reported H5N1 in a black-faced spoonbill found dead on Dec 16 at a wetland park in Yuen Long as part of ongoing surveillance. No detections were found on nearby poultry farms.
Dec 17 OIE report on H5N1 in Estonian fox
Dec 18 OIE report on H5N1 at French zoo
Dec 20 OIE report on H5N1 in Hong Kong
News Scan for Dec 20, 2021
COVID-19 and acute kidney injury; H5N1 avian flu in fox, wild birds
Filed Under:
COVID-19; Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
COVID ICU patients with acute kidney injury at higher risk for death
A small observational study presented over the weekend at the online Euroanaesthesia conference suggests that, of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), those with acute kidney injury (AKI) are more likely to die in the hospital than those with a history of kidney disease.
According to a press release from study sponsor, The European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive care (ESAIC), the study also showed that dialysis doesn't appreciably increase the chances of survival.
Austrian researchers retrospectively studied all 129 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at two ICUs in Vienna from Sep 1, 2020, to Feb 15, 2021. Median patient age was 66.5 years, and two-thirds were men.
Thirty-three patients had a history of kidney disease, 26 were previously healthy kidney patients who developed AKI 5 days after ICU admission, and 70 patients had normal kidney function before and during their ICU stay. Thirty-two patients required dialysis.
Among the 33 patients with pre-existing kidney disease, 55% survived their ICU stay, compared with 46% of those diagnosed as having AKI and 83% of the patients who maintained normal kidney function.
The two groups of patients with impaired kidney dysfunction had significantly lower odds of survival than average, for a higher risk of death than those with normal kidney function. The findings suggest that neither early initiation of dialysis nor the number of days on dialysis had much survival benefit, the authors said.
Lead author Katharina Oberneder, MD, of Sigmund Freud University, said the results indicate that kidney dysfunction is a key risk factor for death related to COVID-19 in ICU patients. "Ultimately, what is most important is focusing on the early diagnosis of acute kidney dysfunction and how we can use these results to improve the care of critically ill COVID-19 patients," she said.
Dec 17 ESAIC press release
H5N1 avian flu found in Estonian fox and water birds in France, Hong Kong
Three jurisdictions reported highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu in populations other than poultry, including a fox, zoo birds, and wild birds, according to the latest notifications from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
Estonia reported high-pathogenic H5N1 in a dead wild red fox found in Hiiu province on Hiiumaa island off the country's western Baltic coast. Results were confirmed on Nov 24. The report said the animal probably contracted the virus from other wild species.
Elsewhere in Europe, France reported H5N1 in pink-backed pelicans at a zoo in Occitanie province in the country's southwest. The zoo keeps birds in both aviaries and in open-air settings, including on a pond, which is close to a wetland. The event began on Dec 14 and killed 3 of 65 susceptible birds.
In Asia, Hong Kong reported H5N1 in a black-faced spoonbill found dead on Dec 16 at a wetland park in Yuen Long as part of ongoing surveillance. No detections were found on nearby poultry farms.
Dec 17 OIE report on H5N1 in Estonian fox
Dec 18 OIE report on H5N1 at French zoo
Dec 20 OIE report on H5N1 in Hong Kong
