Treatment Based Questions

Frequently Asked Inpatient Questions Microchapter
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]: Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aisha Adigun, B.Sc., M.D.[2]Nuha Al-Howthi, MD[3]

Treatment Based Questions

Following the retraction of the two articles that halted the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, can I currently administer this medication to patients?

• Currently there is no recommended use of hydroxychloroquine outside of clinical trials.

Is every patient with a positive COVID-19 test required to be admitted to the hospital?

• Not all patients with COVID-19 require hospital admission. Patients whose clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation precautions.

• Some patients with the initially mild clinical presentation may worsen in the second week of illness. The decision to monitor these patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting should be made on a case-by-case basis. This decision will depend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient’s ability to engage in self-monitoring, the feasibility of safe isolation at home, and the risk of transmission in the patient’s home environment.

Are empirical antibiotics recommended for patients suspected with having COVID-19?

• Several patients with COVID-19 have been reported to present with concurrent community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Decisions to administer antibiotics to COVID-19 patients should be based on the likelihood of bacterial infection (community-acquired or hospital-acquired), illness severity, and antimicrobial stewardship issues.

What anti-viral medications are available to treat COVID-19?

• There are no drugs or other therapeutics presently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent or treat COVID-19. Current clinical management includes infection prevention and control measures and supportive care, including supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support when indicated. There are many ongoing clinical trials in the US and around the world for the treatment of COVID-19.

Do NSAIDs worsen the course of disease for people with COVID-19?

• CDC is currently not aware of scientific evidence establishing a link between NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen) and worsening of COVID‑19. FDA external, the European Medicines, the World Health Organization, and CDC are continuing to monitor the situation and will review new information on the effects of NSAIDs and COVID-19 disease as it becomes available. For those who wish to use treatment options other than NSAIDs, there are other over-the-counter and prescription medications approved for pain relief and fever reduction. Patients who rely on NSAIDs to treat chronic conditions and have additional questions should speak to their healthcare provider for individualized management. Patients should use NSAIDs, and all medications, according to the product labels and advice of their healthcare professional.

Are There any vaccines or other medical products to prevent COVID-19?

• At this time there is no vaccine to prevent corona virus disease 2019(COVID-19). The FDA is working with the vaccine developers and other researchers and manufacturers to help expedite the development and availability of medical products such as vaccines, antibodies and drugs to prevent COVID-19.