Sometimes our Department of Medicine chair sends us COVID19 updates.
A few weeks ago the update was about hospital surge plans; how we handle increasing number of COVID19 patients, where the patients to be directed, and evaluation standards to follow.
This morning the update was about current COVID19 patients treatment.
In its version 8, the procedures changed so much from early 2020, when no one knew effective treatment. Since then, there have been lots of misinformation with or without political intents or ignorance. This change/progress in medicine was earned at the cost of many patients' lives worldwide.
The update seems to follow current (Oct 2020 version) NIH guideline rather closely.
Antibiotics and Hydroxychloroquine are gone. Instead, after pregnancy and oxygen requirement evaluation, antiviral med Remdesivir (now FDA-approved COVID19 medicine) and anti-inflammatory steroid dexamethasone are employed for oxygen-required patients. Convalescent plasma application may be evaluated, although this is still somewhat experimental. For non-oxygen-requiring patients, treatments are for symptoms.
Recent decrease in COVID19 death rate may owe these changes in treating ICU/hospital-admitted patients. We still continue to play Russian Roulette with COVID19, though.
Keep looking at what really is going on.
Tomorrow is the day of election in the US. Perhaps, you need to consider how this pandemic has been handled.
NIH guideline Oct2020
