Top in ID: Long COVID study points to gut; vaccination reduces cardiovascular risks

Brain fog and other long COVID symptoms could arise from depleted serotonin triggered by persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in the gut, supporting the study of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for treatment of long COVID.

“There has been some evidence to suggest that SSRIs could be effective in preventing long COVID, and our research now presents an opportunity for future studies to select specific patients for a trial who exhibit depleted serotonin, and to be able to measure response to treatment,” Benjamin Abramoff, MD, MS, director of the Post-COVID Assessment and Recovery Clinic at Penn Medicine, said in a press release.

It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

In another top story, researchers found evidence that being vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 reduced the risk for post-infection cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Updated COVID-19 vaccines and early treatment could “play a key role in mitigating the risks of long-term sequelae,” Jue Tao Lim, PhD, BSc, assistant professor in the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at Nanyang Technological University, told Healio.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below, including highlights from IDWeek:

Study traces long COVID symptoms to SARS-CoV-2 infection in gut

A new study links some neurocognitive symptoms of long COVID to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection in the gut, which triggers a series of reactions that lowers serotonin levels. In a perspective, Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, said the findings have “potential therapeutic promise.” Read more.

COVID-19 vaccination lowers risk of post-infection cardiovascular complications

People infected with COVID-19 have a higher risk of cardiovascular/cerebrovascular complications. However, researchers found that these risks can be reduced with vaccination and boosting. Read more.

Bavarian Nordic’s chikungunya vaccine candidate effective across age groups

Bavarian Nordic’s chikungunya vaccine candidate was shown to be highly immunogenic in participants across age groups, according to data presented at IDWeek. Read more.

VIDEO: IDSA’s new president sets some goals

The Infectious Diseases Society of America is focused on growing the ID workforce and increasing opportunities for its members, its new president told Healio at IDWeek. Read more.

VIDEO: Cholera in Haiti a ‘really desperate’ situation

An ongoing outbreak of cholera in Haiti has infected nearly 1 million people, and the situation will not improve unless action is taken, Louise Ivers, MD, MPH, FIDSA, FASTMH, told Healio at IDWeek. Read more.