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In the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, one potential cause of concern is that some discharged COVID‐19 patients are testing positive again for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) RNA. To better understand what is happening and to provide public health policy planners and clinicians timely information, we have searched and reviewed published studies about discharged patients testing positive again for the SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA. Our search found 12 reports, all of which described patients in China. Our review of these reports indicates the presence of discharged patients who remain asymptomatic but test positive. However, it is unclear whether they are contagious because a positive reverse transcriptase – polymerase chain reaction (RT‐ PCR) test does not necessarily indicate the presence of replicating and transmissible virus. Our review suggests the need for timely, parallel testing of different samples, including, for example, fecal specimens, from COVID‐19 patients before and after they are discharged from hospitals. Highlights: One concern regarding COVID‐19 patients discharged from hospitals is some of them test positive again for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA. This review of published reports concerning discharged COVID‐19 patients testing positive again for SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA indicates that most of them remain asymptomatic when they test positive again. However, it is unclear whether they are contagious because a positive RT‐PCR test does not necessarily indicate the presence of replicating and transmissible virus. Additionally, this review suggests the need for timely, parallel testing of different samples, including for example, fecal specimens, from COVID‐19 patients before and after they are discharged from hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of drug therapies for coronavirus infections. Rapid systematic review with search in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane, BVS, Global Index Medicus, Medrix, bioRxiv, Clinicaltrials. gov and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases. Thirty-six studies evaluating alternative drugs against SARS, SARSCoV- 2 and MERS were included. Most of the included studies were conducted in China with an observational design for the treatment of COVID-19. The most studied treatments were with antimalarials and antivirals. In antimalarial, the meta-analysis of two studies with 180 participants did not identify the benefit of hydroxychloroquine concerning the negative viral load via real-time polymerase chain reaction, and the use of antivirals compared to standard care was similar regarding outcomes. The available scientific evidence is preliminary and of low methodological quality, which suggests caution when interpreting its results. Research that evaluates comparative efficacy in randomized, controlled clinical trials, with adequate follow-up time and with the methods properly disclosed and subject to scientific peer review is required. A periodic update of this review is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19, which appeared to originate in China in December 2019, has spread worldwide in a pandemic way. The aim of this work is to present a protocol to standardize the outpatient oral surgery activities through remote triage, diagnostic tests, protections, and precautions that allow to provide care while minimizing risk for both patients and surgeons. This article summarizes the clinical and surgical experience of the Oral Surgery Unit of the "Mater Domini" Hospital (Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Italy) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The application of a scrupulous triage protocol, the use of remote consultations to limit patients' access to the clinic, and the correct use of PPE prevented transmission of the virus between patients and staff members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID‐19, which appeared to originate in China in December 2019, has spread worldwide pandemically. In this commentary, authors described this new challenge for dental education using the recent literature and experience gained in the Italian University of Catanzaro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The NORMAN ARB&ARG enables open and rapid antibiotic resistance (AR) data sharing. • NORMAN ARB&ARG data provides an evidence base for regulators and reveal data gaps. • AR data from three studies were successfully imported to the database as a demonstration. With the global concerns on antibiotic resistance (AR) as a public health issue, it is pivotal to have data exchange platforms for studies on antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. For this purpose, the NORMAN Association is hosting the NORMAN ARB&ARG database, which was developed within the European project ANSWER. The present article provides an overview on the database functionalities, the extraction and the contribution of data to the database. In this study, AR data from three studies from China and Nepal were extracted and imported into the NORMAN ARB&ARG in addition to the existing AR data from 11 studies (mainly European studies) on the database. This feasibility study demonstrates how the scientific community can share their data on AR to generate an international evidence base to inform AR mitigation strategies. The open and FAIR data are of high potential relevance for regulatory applications, including the development of emission limit values / environmental quality standards in relation to AR. The growth in sharing of data and analytical methods will foster collaboration on risk management of AR worldwide, and facilitate the harmonization in the effort for identification and surveillance of critical hotspots of AR. The NORMAN ARB&ARG database is publicly available at: https://www.norman-network.com/nds/bacteria/. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 obtained from two patients, a Chinese tourist visiting Rome and an Italian, were compared with sequences from Europe and elsewhere. In a phylogenetic tree, the Italian patient's sequence clustered with sequences from Germany while the tourist's sequence clustered with other European sequences. Some additional European sequences in the tree segregated outside the two clusters containing the patients' sequences. This suggests multiple SARS-CoV-2 introductions in Europe or virus evolution during circulation.