According to Prof.Dr. Petri, the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health at UVA, and head of the Infectious Diseases Training Program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine \u2013 no evidence they work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are\u00a0three randomized controlled trials\u00a0of hydroxychloroquine, all of which have failed to prove or disprove a beneficial or harmful effect on COVID-19 clinical course or clearance of virus. Given this current lack of evidence, these drugs, which normally are used to treat arthritis, should\u00a0only be used within the context of a controlled clinical trial.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lopinavir\/ritonavir \u2013 not helpful<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The drug Lopinavir is an inhibitor of an enzyme called HIV protease which is involved in the production of viral particles. Protease inhibitors for HIV were revolutionary, leading to our current ability to effectively treat HIV. Lopinavir also can inhibit enzymes that perform similar functions as the HIV protease in the\u00a0SARS and MERS coronaviruses. Ritonavir increases the level of Lopinavir in the blood so the lopinavir\/ritonavir combination was tested in a randomized controlled clinical trial for COVID-19.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, there was no impact on the levels of virus in the throat or duration of viral shedding, nor did patients\u2019 clinical course or survival change. There therefore is\u00a0no role for lopinavir\/ritonavir in the treatment of COVID-19.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Steroids \u2013 yes for almost all COVID-19 patients<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When a synthetic steroid hormone, called dexamethasone, was given to patients with COVID-19 the drug decreased\u00a028-day mortality by 17% and hastened hospital discharge.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n This work was performed in a\u00a0randomized and controlled clinical trial\u00a0of over 6,000 patients, and while not replicated in another study or yet peer reviewed, is certainly enough evidence to recommend its use.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tocilizumab \u2013 too early to judge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tocilizumab is an\u00a0antibody, that blocks a protein, called IL-6 receptor, from binding IL-6 and triggering inflammation. Levels of IL-6 are higher in many patients with COVID-19, and the immune system in general seems to be hyperactivated in those with the most severe disease. This leads many physicians and physicians to think that inhibiting the IL-6 receptor might protect patients from severe disease.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tocilizumab is currently FDA approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and several other collagen-vascular diseases and for \u201ccytokine storm\u201d \u2013 a harmful overreaction of the immune system \u2013 that can be caused by certain types of cancer therapy and COVID-19.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n A retrospective observational study\u00a0found that COVID-19 patients treated with tocilizumab had a lower risk of mechanical ventilation and death. But we lack a randomized controlled clinical trial so there is no way to ascertain if this apparent improvement was due to tocilizumab or from the imprecise nature of retrospective studies.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Convalescent plasma \u2013 too early to judge<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Convalescent plasma, the liquid derived from blood after removing the white and red blood cells, contains antibodies from previous infections that the plasma donor had. This plasma has been used to prevent infectious diseases including pneumonia, tetanus, diphtheria, mumps and chickenpox for over a century. It is thought to benefit patients because antibodies from the plasma of survivors bind to and inactivate pathogens or their toxins of patients. Convalescent plasma has now been used in thousands of COVID-19 patients.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the only randomized clinical trial was small and included just 103 patients who received convalescent plasma 14 days after they became ill. There was\u00a0no difference in the time to clinical improvement or mortality\u00a0between those who did and did not receive treatment. The encouraging news was that there was a significant decrease in virus levels detected by PCR.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is therefore too early to tell if this will be beneficial and controlled clinical trials are needed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remdesivir \u2013 yes, decreases hospital stay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remdesivir is a drug that inhibits the coronavirus enzyme\u00a0that makes copies of the viral RNA genome. It acts by causing premature stoppage or termination of the copying and ultimately blocks the virus from replicating.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Remdesivir treatment, especially for patients who required supplemental oxygen before they were placed on a ventilator\u00a0reduced mortality and shortened the average recovery time\u00a0from 15 to 11 days.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n ACE inhibitors and ARBs \u2013 keep taking them<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There was a concern that drugs called\u00a0ACE inhibitors\u00a0or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), which are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, could increase levels of the ACE2 proteins, the receptor\u00a0for SARS-CoV-2,\u00a0on the surface of cells in the body. This would, physicians hypothesized, allow more entry points for the virus to infect cells and would therefore boost the severity of new coronavirus infections.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there is no evidence that this is the case. The American Heart Association, the Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology all recommend that patients continue to take these medications during the pandemic as they are\u00a0beneficial in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We have made amazing progress in the treatment of COVID-19. Two therapies \u2013 steroids and Remdesivir \u2013 have already been shown to help. Those who benefit from these treatments owe thanks to patients who volunteered to participate in controlled clinical trials and the physicians and pharmaceutical companies that lead them.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n PREVENTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n To prevent infection, there are a six things that you can do, according to WHO:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water and dry them thoroughly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can also use alcohol-based hand rub if your hands are not visibly dirty and if this product is available. Cleaning your hands frequently will remove the virus if it is on your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Wear the mask in crowded public places and on public transport<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue when coughing and sneezing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And remember to throw away the used tissue immediately in a bin with a lid and to wash your hands. This way you protect others from any virus released through coughs and sneezes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hands touch many surfaces which can be contaminated with the virus. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands, you can transfer the virus from the surface to yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Keep physical distance from others.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If your national or local authorities have put in place confinement measures, it is important to respect them. Taking exercise outside is good for your physical and mental health, but should only be undertaken if regulations for your area allow it. When you do go out, avoid crowded spaces and maintain at least 1 metre distance (3 feet or arms-length) from others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, taps, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" According to Prof.Dr. Petri, the chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health at UVA, and head of the Infectious Diseases Training Program for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine \u2013 no evidence they work There are\u00a0three randomized controlled trials\u00a0of hydroxychloroquine, all of which have failed to prove or disprove a […]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3135,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3132","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3132","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3132"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3132\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3136,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3132\/revisions\/3136"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3135"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3132"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3132"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.khabangkok.com\/en\/kha-bangkok-co-ltd\/kha-bangkok-healthcare-thailand\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3132"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}