Repurposing of antibiotics for clinical management of COVID-19: a narrative review.
Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob
; 20(1): 37, 2021 May 21.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1238722
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Drug repurposing otherwise known as drug repositioning or drug re-profiling is a time-tested approach in drug discovery through which new medical uses are being established for already known drugs. Antibiotics are among the pharmacological agents being investigated for potential anti-SARS-COV-2 activities. The antibiotics are used either to resolve bacterial infections co-existing with COVID-19 infections or exploitation of their potential antiviral activities. Herein, we aimed to review the various antibiotics that have been repositioned for the management of COVID-19.METHODS:
This literature review was conducted from a methodical search on PubMed and Web of Science regarding antibiotics used in patients with COVID-19 up to July 5, 2020.RESULTS:
Macrolide and specifically azithromycin is the most common antibiotic used in the clinical management of COVID-19. The other antibiotics used in COVID-19 includes teicoplanin, clarithromycin, doxycycline, tetracyclines, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, and cefuroxime. In patients with COVID-19, antibiotics are used for their immune-modulating, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties. The precise antiviral mechanism of most of these antibiotics has not been determined. Moreover, the use of some of these antibiotics against SARS-CoV-2 infection remains highly controversial and not widely accepted.CONCLUSION:
The heavy use of antibiotics during the COVID-19 pandemic would likely worsen antibiotic resistance crisis. Consequently, antibiotic stewardship should be strengthened in order to prevent the impacts of COVID-19 on the antibiotic resistance crisis.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Drug Repositioning
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
/
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob
Journal subject:
Microbiology
/
Drug Therapy
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12941-021-00444-9
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