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Jamil 2020
Jamil 2020
are possible as the virus can persist on surfaces Attack rate: 30-40% (community, in China)
and is shed in feces, but it is unclear if these are R0: 2-4 (lower with containment)
significant means of spread.2,3 Case fatality rate 1.5% USA, 3.4% overall
■ There is evidence of transmission by asymptomatic worldwide
individuals4. Incubation time 3-14 days
■ The virus binds to the ACE2 receptor on type II Viral shedding Median 20 days
pneumocytes. However, the role of Angiotensin
Clinical Presentation
Converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin
Receptor Blockers (ARBs) as treatments or risk Symptoms may vary from mild cough to fulminant
factors for disease is unclear5. respiratory failure. Positive tests have also been
■ The reported incubation time is 3-12 days with a
obtained from asymptomatic patients. Table 2 lists
the estimated frequency of symptoms observed to
median duration of viral shedding of 20 days6,7.
date10:
■ There is evidence that the virus changes over time.
Table 2: Frequency of Symptoms in COVID-19
There may be multiple strains of SARS-CoV-2 in
Symptom Percent of patients with symptom
circulation8.
Cough 50-80%
Epidemiology
Fever 85% (only 45% febrile on
Characteristics such as the attack rate (% of presentation)
individuals in an at-risk population who acquire the Fatigue 69.6%
infection), R0 (R naught, the expected number of
Dyspnea 20-40%
cases directly generated by one case in a population
URI symptoms 15%
where all individuals are susceptible to infection),
and case fatality rate (CFR, % of infected individuals GI symptoms (nausea, 10%
who die) are contextual. That is, they depend on vomiting, diarrhea)
ground glass with a peripheral predominance, (C) point 95% alcohol containing hand gel
of care lung ultrasound showing predominance of ■ Use appropriate PPE in the correct sequence,
B-lines in patients with COVID-19. Images courtesy of
Dr. Nick Mark. including14:
Diagnostic Testing and Reporting: ◆ Standard precautions
testing capacity is increasing quickly. The following ◆ Droplet precautions with eye protection
recommendations have been made regarding ◆ PLUS airborne precautions for aerosolizing
diagnostic testing and reporting11,12. procedures such as intubation, extubation, non-
■ Send nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV),
polymerase chain reaction testing (RT-PCR). open circuit suctioning, bronchoscopy, and
Check with your local facility regarding test aerosol treatments
www.thoracic.org
AJRCCM Articles in Press. Published March 30, 2020 as 10.1164/rccm.2020C1
Copyright © 2020 by the American Thoracic Society
Page 3 of 4
American Thoracic Society
PUBLIC HEALTH | INFORMATION SERIES
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER EDUCATION RAPID RESPONSE
■ N95 masks must be fit tested aerosolizing NIPPV and emergent intubations
■ All Healthcare professionals must be trained in how ■ Use rapid-sequence intubation. Avoid bag-mask
to properly don, use, and doff PPE in a manner to valve if possible due to risk of droplet spread
prevent self-contamination ■ Avoid direct laryngoscopy to distance provider
■ If available, consider powered air-purifying from patient. Use video laryngoscopy where
respirator (PAPRs) or controlled air purifying possible
respirators (CAPRs). ■ Connect suction and capnography in advance to
based on experience to-date. Of note, these are ARDSnet protocol. Prone and paralyze as needed
suggestions and should not replace clinical judgement ■ Patients will likely require a prolonged duration of
■ Empiric antibiotics if suspicion for secondary can be considered but is associated with a high
infection mortality rate16
■ Monitor for and treat cardiomyopathy and
■ Due to concerns for aerosol spread, nebulizers
should be converted to MDIs cardiogenic shock which have been reported as
a late complication of COVID-19. Point-of-care
■ WHO has not recommended against the use of
ultrasound as well as BNP levels may be useful in
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Clinicians
identifying patients with this complication
should consider alternatives if concerns exist
◆ In a recent case series from Washington, 33% of
■ Initiating or discontinuing ACE-I and ARBs have
patients developed cardiomyopathy17
been an area of intense discussion. The American
College of Cardiology, American Heart Association Investigational Therapies
and Heart Failure Society of America’s joint Information on registered clinical trials for COVID-19
statement recommends against discontinuing in the United States is available at: https://
ACE-I and ARBs in patients with COVID-19 clinicaltrials.gov/
■ Monitor for and treat cardiomyopathy and ■ No US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved
cardiogenic shock which have been reported as drugs specifically for the treatment of patients with
a late complication of COVID-19. Point-of-care COVID-19 currently exist. Drugs currently approved
ultrasound may be useful in identifying patients for other indications as well as investigational drugs
with this complication are being studied in clinical trials17
■ Corticosteroids are not recommended except when ■ FDA approved drugs that may be used off-label
required for other indications such as asthma or ◆ Chloroquine or Hydroxychloroquine—blocks viral
COPD exacerbations, refractory shock or evidence entry into the endosome; in vitro data suggests
of cytokine storm some utility but data from RCTs is lacking
Management of Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure ■ Investigational agents available in the U.S. Avoid
These are suggestions and should not replace clinical prophylactic use
judgement at the bedside. ◆ Remdesivir—anti-viral nucleotide analog
www.thoracic.org
AJRCCM Articles in Press. Published March 30, 2020 as 10.1164/rccm.2020C1
Copyright © 2020 by the American Thoracic Society
Page 4 of 4
American Thoracic Society
PUBLIC HEALTH | INFORMATION SERIES
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER EDUCATION RAPID RESPONSE
◆ Tocilizumab—IL-6
inhibitor and may have a role in References:
cytokine storm and for patients in shock 1. Peng Z, et al. “A pneumonia outbreak associated with a new
coronavirus of probable bat origin.” Nature: 579, 270-273(2020).
Prognosis 2. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/
Based on experience in China, 80% of patients have transmission.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.
gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Ftransmission.
mild symptoms, 15% moderate, and 5% severe html (accessed 3/20/2020).
(requiring mechanical ventilation). Most patients 3. Xiao F, et al. “Evidence for gastrointestingal infection of SARS-
deteriorate gradually with a median of 9 days from CoV-2.” Gastroenterology (2020), doi: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.
gastro.2020.02.055.
symptom onset to ICU admission. Pregnant women
4. Wu D, et al. “The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak: what we know.”
and children appear to have a better prognosis. The International Journal of Infectious Diseases (2020), doi: https://doi.
following factors have been associated with worse org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.03.004.
outcomes: 5. http://www.nephjc.com/news/covidace2 (accessed 3/21/2020).
■ Increasing age 6. Lauer S, et al. “The Incubation Period of Coronavirus Disease 2019
(COVID-19) from Publicly Reported Confirmed Cases: Estimation
■ Comorbidities including diabetes, cardiovascular and Application.” Annals of Internal Medicine: 10 March 2020.
disease (including hypertension), and chronic lung 7. Zhou F, et al. “Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of
disease adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a restrospective
cohort study. Lancet. 2020 Mar 11. pii: S0140-6736(20)30566-3. doi:
■ Higher admission sequential organ failure 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3.
assessment (SOFA) score 8. Xiaolu Tang, Changcheng Wu, Xiang Li, Yuhe Song, Xinmin Yao,
Xinkai Wu, Yuange Duan, Hong Zhang, Yirong Wang, Zhaohui Qian,
■ Laboratory abnormalities: elevated D-dimer, Jie Cui, Jian Lu, On the origin and continuing evolution of SARS-
ferritin, and troponin CoV-2, National Science Review, nwaa036, https://doi.org/10.1093/
nsr/nwaa036
Control Strategies
9. https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-
The following strategies are recommended to slow reports/20200306-sitrep-46-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=96b04adf_2
the rate of SARS-CoV-2 spread: (accessed 3/21/2020).
10. Guan W, et al. “Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019
■ Contact tracing in China.” NEJM. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2002032.
■ Social /Physical distancing 11. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/guidelines-
clinical-specimens.html (accessed 3/21/2020)
■ Quarantine of suspected cases and exposed
12. https://aabronchology.org/2020/03/12/2020-aabip-statement-on-
individuals bronchoscopy-covid-19-infection/ (accessed 3/21/2020)
■ Travel restrictions 13. https://aabronchology.org/2020/03/12/2020-aabip-statement-on-
bronchoscopy-covid-19-infection/ (accessed 3/23/2020)
Authors:
14. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/infection-control/
Shazia Jamil, MD, Scripps Clinic and University of control-recommendations.html (accessed 3/21/2020)
California, San Diego
15. Board on Health Sciences Policy; Institute of Medicine. The
Nick Mark, MD, University of Washington Use and Effectiveness of Powered Air Purifying Respirators in
Graham Carlos, MD, Indiana University Health Care: Workshop Summary. Washington (DC): National
Academies Press (US); 2015 May 7. 2, Defining PAPRs and Current
Charles S. Dela Cruz, MD, PhD, Yale University Standards. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
Jane E Gross, MD, PhD, National Jewish Health NBK294223/
Susan Pasnick, MD, MidCentral DHB, New Zealand 16. Henry B. “COVID-19, ECMO, and lymphomenia: a word of caution.”
Lancet: DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30119-3.
Reviewers: 17. Arentz M, Yim E, Klaff L, et al. Characteristics and Outcomes
Vidya Krishnan, MD of 21 Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19 in Washington
State. JAMA. Published online March 19, 2020. doi:10.1001/
Marianna Sockrider, MD, DrPH jama.2020.4326
Kevin Wilson, MD 18. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/therapeutic-
options.html (accessed 3/23/2020)
19. Cao B, Wang Y, Wen D, et al. A trial of lopinavir–ritonavir in adults
hospitalized with severe Covid-19. N Engl J Med. DOI: 10.1056/
NEJMoa2001282.
www.thoracic.org
AJRCCM Articles in Press. Published March 30, 2020 as 10.1164/rccm.2020C1
Copyright © 2020 by the American Thoracic Society