A critical analysis about the supposed role of azithromycin in the treatment of covid-19

After over one year, the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) has still affected millions of people. For this reason, global efforts to promote better treatment of covid-19 have been undertaken focused on the repurposing of existing medications.In Brazil, azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, ha...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Santana, Ricardo Ruan, Barbosa, Bárbara Oliva, Soares, José Rivaldo de Oliveira, Colombo, Rayssa Mielo, Santos, Victória Rafaela, Amaral, Ricardo Guimarães, Andrade, Luciana Nalone
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:Brasil
Institución:Hospital de Clínicas de Itajubá
Repositorio:Revista Ciências em Saúde
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ojs.portalrcs.hcitajuba.org.br:article/1184
Acceso en línea:https://portalrcs.hcitajuba.org.br/index.php/rcsfmit_zero/article/view/1184
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:anti-infective agents
azithromycin
covid-19
SARS-CoV-2
anti-infecciosos
azitromicina
Descripción
Sumario:After over one year, the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) has still affected millions of people. For this reason, global efforts to promote better treatment of covid-19 have been undertaken focused on the repurposing of existing medications.In Brazil, azithromycin, a broad-spectrum antibiotic, has been used in association with other drugs as an immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral agent, regardless of bacterial co-infection. Indeed, data from experimental studies have demonstrated the capacity of this drug in reducing the production of infection-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. However, observational studies revealed conflicting results regarding its effect, whereas well-conducted clinical trials have not shown a considerable effect of this agent on the improvement of clinical outcomes. This narrative review addressed the possible role of this antibiotic in the management of covid-19, based on data from clinical and preclinical studies.