Azithromycin for mild-to-moderate COVID-19

Patel, Jigar; Berezowski, Ivan; Abdelmonem, Ahmed; Taylor, Dania; Pourmand, Ali

doi:10.1016/s2213-2600(21)00379-9

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Azithromycin became the second most used antibacterial in Hungary during the pandemic. Azithromycin has been proposed for the treatment for COVID-19 on the basis of its immunomodulatory and antiviral actions, which may have boosted the use of macrolides during the pandemic [ 15 , 16 , 17 ]. The first concerns were published in August 2020 [ 18 ], and then, in March 2021, azithromycin was proven to be ineffective against COVID-19, so it was only recommended for bacterial superinfection, as are other antibiotics [ 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Care Antibiotic Use in Hungary: A Population-Based Observational Study

et al. 2023

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The COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions have potentially impacted the use of antibiotics. We aimed to analyze the use of systemic antibiotics (J01) in ambulatory care in Hungary during two pandemic years, to compare it with pre-COVID levels (January 2015–December 2019), and to describe trends based on monthly utilization. Our main findings were that during the studied COVID-19 pandemic period, compared to the pre-COVID level, an impressive 23.22% decrease in the use of systemic antibiotics was detected in ambulatory care. A significant reduction was shown in the use of several antibacterial subgroups, such as beta-lactam antibacterials, penicillins (J01C, −26.3%), and quinolones (J01M, −36.5%). The trends of antibiotic use moved in parallel with the introduction or revoking of restriction measures with a nadir in May 2020, which corresponded to a 55.46% decrease in use compared to the previous (pre-COVID) year’s monthly means. In general, the systemic antibiotic use (J01) was lower compared to the pre-COVID periods’ monthly means in almost every studied pandemic month, except for three months from September to November in 2021. The seasonal variation of antibiotic use also diminished. Active agent level analysis revealed an excessive use of azithromycin, even after evidence of ineffectiveness for COVID-19 emerged.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Care Antibiotic Use in Hungary: A Population-Based Observational Study

et al. 2023

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“…Consequently, it is not responsible to discuss the present results considering those of clinical trials, not only due to the limitations of our design but because they represent disparate clinical circumstances. Otherwise, clinical trials in community settings also encompasses factors that are not part of the present study, such as unconfirmed cases and adherence issues 39,40 . Interestingly, a recent clinical trial reported therapeutic efficacy of azithromycin or clarithromycin in management of patients with mild COVID-19, not being these patients exposed to corticosteroids 41 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pharmacotherapy and clinical outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Chile during the first wave of pandemic

Muñoz,

Cano,

Amador

et al. 2023

Rev. méd. Chile

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Background:The largest growth in cases of COVID-19 worldwide during 2020 was in the Americas, and Chile was one of the most affected countries. Aim: To describe, characterize, and evaluate the use of drugs as treatment for COVID-19 in hospitalized patients in Chile during the first wave of the pandemic. Methods: We performed a multicenter, observational study that included 442 patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted in Chilean hospitals between March 21 and September 22, 2020. The analysis included demographics, comorbidities, specific drug therapy, and outcomes over a 28-day follow-up period. Results: The median age of patients was 68 years (IQR 55-73), and 38.9% were women. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (57.7%) and diabetes (36.9%). Fifty-seven (12.9%) patients died. Hypertension (HR 2.99; were the main predictors of mortality. Primary drugs were azithromycin (58.8%) and corticosteroids (51.1%). In this sample, azithromycin was a protective factor regarding mortality (HR 0.53;, increasing clinical improvement and avoiding progression. Conclusions: The patterns of use of drugs to treat COVID-19 in Chile during the first wave of the pandemic were very dynamic and followed the international, evidence-based guidelines. The low mortality rate indicates that the clinical management of hospitalized patients was adequate.

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“…Azithromycin, in particular, was widely used in the treatment of COVID-19, especially in early cases. One protocol involved a 14-day regimen of once-daily azithromycin at a dosage of 500 mg, which is considerably higher than the typical 3 to 5-day course (Patel et al 2021). Utilizing antibiotics in this manner can promote bacterial resistance and disrupt the balance of the patients' microbiota, leading to potentially dangerous side effects (Sachdev et al 2022).…”

Section: Analysis Of Factors Associated With Smmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and predictors of self-medication to prevent or treat COVID-19 among undergraduate students in Southern Brazil

SOUZA,

WYSE,

NASRE-NASSER

et al. 2024

An. Acad. Bras. Ciênc.

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Self-medication (SM) is the practice of consuming medicines without a prescription. Despite being a potentially dangerous action, SM is practiced globally and has been highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate SM for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 and the factors associated with this practice among undergraduate students in Southern Brazil. A crosssectional study was conducted between July and November 2020 using an electronic questionnaire to collect information about the practice of SM and the associated sociodemographic characteristics, health perception, and lifestyle. We collected 1,553 responses and identified a prevalence of 14.9% for SM. The risk factors for SM were earning between BRL 2,101 and BRL 5,250, studying at a public university, and studying a distance undergraduate course. The protective factors were age above 30 years, female sex, working or participating in internships, occasionally recommending their own medications to other people, and worsening health during the pandemic. The main drugs or products used were ivermectin, vitamins C and D, tea, azithromycin, zinc, and propolis. Our data could help in the development of health education measures to reduce SM among undergraduate students and guide the population regarding the risks of this practice.

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Azithromycin for mild-to-moderate COVID-19

Cited by 10 publications

References 2 publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Care Antibiotic Use in Hungary: A Population-Based Observational Study

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Ambulatory Care Antibiotic Use in Hungary: A Population-Based Observational Study

Pharmacotherapy and clinical outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Chile during the first wave of pandemic

Prevalence and predictors of self-medication to prevent or treat COVID-19 among undergraduate students in Southern Brazil

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