Update June 2022: management of hospitalised adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): a European Respiratory Society living guideline

Abstract

This is the early view version of an editorial detailing the latest update to the ERS living guideline on the management of hospitalised adults with COVID-19. The latest version of the guideline itself can be accessed as a supplementary PDF at the end of this early view PDF. When the guideline is finalised, it will replace the earlier version of the guideline with the original version accessible as a supplementary file, and at the same time this editorial will be published to alert readers to the updates that have been made.

Consumption of Antibiotics in Primary Care Setting before and during COVID-19 Pandemic in Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina

“…The increased consumption of azithromycin is explained by its previously proven immunomodulatory and antiviral effect, which along with antibacterial effect protects against the worsening of viral infections [ 26 , 27 ]. However, some clinical studies have shown that the use of azithromycin did not have any positive effect in the treatment of patients with COVID-19 [ 28 , 29 ]. Unnecessary use of azithromycin may lead to increased resistance rates of respiratory pathogens in addition to a false sense of protection against COVID-19.…”

“…Unnecessary use of azithromycin may lead to increased resistance rates of respiratory pathogens in addition to a false sense of protection against COVID-19. In the newer version of the guidelines for treatment of patients with COVID-19 strong recommendations were made against the use of azithromycin alone or azithromycin in combination with hydroxychloroquine, and colchicine [ 29 ].…”

Tocilizumab versus baricitinib in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19: an open label, randomized controlled trial

“…Contrary to the results of baricitinib trials in COVID-19, studies investigating the efficacy profile of tocilizumab in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 have yielded contradictory results [ 3 , 4 , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] ]. The RECOVERY ( Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy) trial, including a total of 4116 patients with COVID-19, and further future studies have shown beneficial effects of tocilizumab with regards to hospitalization, clinical recovery, need for mechanical ventilation, and survival [ 3 , 25 ].…”

Different death rates between COVID-19 waves among unvaccinated patients: moving beyond lessons learned

“…Fifth, mortality rate during first wave was also elevated because of ineffective treatment with antibiotics, hydroxychloroquine, and antivirals [ 17 ], and those who made it through palliative management of respiratory failure (i.e., mechanical ventilation, high flow oxygen, etc.) did probably so because of natural selection (better immune system allowing them to survive—advanced age is a well-known predictor for risk of COVID death, and immunosenescence is likely to play a role).…”