CNCAV sends a warning to Romanians from all over the country today, and this is because the use of azithromycin to treat cases of COVID-19 is not a viable solution because it would not have any effect in combating the virus, at least according to the explanations available below.
""This spectacular structure is... azithromycin. The famous molecule that gave so many false hopes regarding the treatment of mild and medium forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Moreover, even these days it is prescribed frantically for some of the many who have a mild infection with the new coronavirus.
The working hypothesis stated at the beginning of 2020 that azithromycin could have antiviral effects in the disease of COVID-19 has been disproved by numerous clinical studies.
By administering a single dose of azithromycin at the beginning of the disease, it is hoped to influence the inflammatory response in such a way that the release of signaling molecules does not evolve into the "cytokine storm". With all its dire consequences... Unfortunately, the evidence shows that this administration has similar effects to taking a placebo dose. At least for the first 14 days after the dose.
Even the administration of repeated doses, for 3 days, does not work better, the British PRINCIPLE study proves it. It evaluated the treatment of COVID-19 in people at risk of serious evolution.
And just to be clear to everyone, even adding azithromycin to the usual treatment of mild or moderate disease (the ATOMIC2 study) did not change the risk of worsening or hospitalization.
In other words:
- Do not self-medicate with azithromycin, even if you have it available!
- It is not indicated (so it should not be prescribed) in mild forms of COVID-19, treated at home - by the way, there is a NEW national treatment protocol for SARS-CoV-2 infection, a protocol that corrects the error of an older recommendation, the prescription of antibiotics, in the child who has a mild form of the disease.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE – antibiotics are given in proven bacterial diseases.
The prophylactic administration of antibiotics in acute diseases is contraindicated, with some exceptions (exceptions that do not include COVID-19!!) - you can read here about prophylaxis associated with dental treatments, preoperatively, at birth or in patients with chronic infections and immunodeficiencies.
But I will return to this topic.
Stay healthy!"
Dr. Mihai Craiu, primary pediatrician at the "Alessandrescu-Rusescu" National Institute for Mother and Child Health.
