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...
| Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | article |
| Status: | Published version |
| Publication Date: | 2021 |
| Country: | Brasil |
| Institution: | Hospital de Clínicas de Itajubá |
| Repository: | Revista Ciências em Saúde |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ojs.portalrcs.hcitajuba.org.br:article/1184 |
| Online Access: | https://portalrcs.hcitajuba.org.br/index.php/rcsfmit_zero/article/view/1184 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | anti-infective agents azithromycin covid-19 SARS-CoV-2 anti-infecciosos azitromicina |
| Summary: | 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. |
|---|