Remdesivir not magic bullet, does not reduce mortality: AIIMS director

Amid a steep spike in COVID19 cases leading to increased demand for medicines to treat coronavirus top health experts in the government on Monday said antiviral drug remdesivir is not a magic bullet and does not reduce mortalityAddressing the media AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria said remdesivir should only be given to patients hospitalised with moderate illness who had a fall in oxygen saturation and have infiltrates on chest Xrays or CTscanRemdesivir is not a magic bullet and this is not a drug that reduces mortality We may use it as we dont have a very good antiviral drug It has a limited role and we should be very careful in its usage he saidIn major studies remdesivir was shown to be useful only in those hospitalised patients with falling oxygen saturation and having infiltrates on chest Xray or CTscan It is of no use if given early in mild and asymptomatic patients and also if administered too late Dr Guleria saidNITI Aayog member Health V K Paul said that remdesivir is not to be used in home settings and not to be procured from chemist shopsData from studies so far have shown that remdesivir does not have any effect in reducing the mortality in COVID19 he said in support of Dr Gulerias remarkThe health ministry in its Clinical Management Protocols for COVID19 has recommended the use of remdesivir on COVID19 patients in a moderate stage of the illness The drug has been included as an investigational therapy and recommended only for restricted emergency Paul saidGuleria also said studies have shown that plasma therapy has a limited role in COVID19 treatment and is of not much useAbout the drug tocilizumab he said the drug is required in less than 2 per cent of COVID19 patients because it is only for cytokine stormIt is to be given in the later stage of illness among those who have very high inflammatory markers and whose condition is worsening despite steroids remdesivir and anticoagulantsA majority of patients who have a mild COVID19 or are asymptomatic will improve with just symptomatic treatment Guleria asserted adding the one drug that did show any benefit was steroids but when to administer it is very importantRecovery trial showed that steroid has a harmful effect if given in an early stage of the disease before there is a fall in oxygen saturationAs for antiviral drug favipiravir Guleria said the data for its utility in treating COVID19 is not very strongIt has no effect on mortality and there is not much evidence to show that it is useful It is not recommended for use in the National Clinical Management Protocol for COVID19 he saidSo it is important to understand that by giving treatment when it is not required you may be doing more harm I appeal to everyone to please follow protocols and give treatment in a rational manner Guleria saidOver new research findings that COVID19 spreads through air and not through droplets Paul said he has also gone through studies which say that airborne transmission is more prevalent than surface transmissionIt is a dynamic situation for new learning he saidAbout precautions to be followed in the backdrop of the emerging information he said masks play an important role in preventing COVID19 spread and emphasised the need for good cross ventilation indoors besides maintaining a physical distanceThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever