Treatment Based Questions
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]: Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:
Treatment Based Questions
Following the retraction of the two articles that halted the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, can I currently administer this medication to patients?
Is every patient with a positive COVID-19 test required to be admitted to the hospital?
Not all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation precautions.
Some patients with the initially mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second week of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. This decision will depend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient’s ability to engage in self-monitoring, the feasibility of safe isolation at home, and the risk of transmission in the patient’s home environment.
What are the chances of recovery in a hospital admitted COVID-19 patient?
Are empirical antibiotics recommended for patients suspected with having COVID-19?
Several patients with COVID-19 have been reported to present with concurrent community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Decisions to administer antibiotics to COVID-19 patients should be based on the likelihood of bacterial infection (community-acquired or hospital-acquired), illness severity, and antimicrobial stewardship issues.
What anti-viral medications are available to treat COVID-19?
There are no drugs or other therapeutics presently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent or treat COVID-19. Current clinical management includes infection prevention and control measures and supportive care, including supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support when indicated. There are many ongoing clinical trials in the US and around the world for the treatment of COVID-19.