Effectiveness of Anti-TB Medicines in Treating Patients Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms

Jawad FH Al-Musawi

Jawad FH Al-Musawi Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutic, Thi-Qar Medical College, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq.

Keywords: COVID-19, Anti-tuberculosis, Rifampicin, Streptomycin, Azithromycin, Ceftriaxone, Anti-TB

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19, the life-threatening disease caused by the pathogenic SARS-CoV-2 virus, has limited treatment or measures for curing the infected persons. However, many antibiotics have been tried with varied results.
Objective: To assess the effectiveness of anti-tubercular medicines in treating patients who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.
Methods: The present research work included nearly 2885 patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, who were categorised into two groups. The first group comprised nearly 1399 patients who were injected with 1 gm/day of streptomycin dose for a period of 10 days and 600 mg/day dosage of rifampicin was administered for a period of 10 days depending on the clinical symptoms. The second group (1486 patients) received 1 gm ceftriaxonein 100 ml saline solution for a continuous period of 12 hours continued for 10 days and 500 mg oral azithromycin continued for treatment for 5 days.
Results: The use of ceftriaxone 1 gm twice daily for 10 days and azithromycin 500 mg twice daily for 5 days improved 1486 (51.51%) patients, and streptomycin 1 gm twice daily for 10 days made nearly 1399 (48.49%) patients respond well, considering the significant level for improving the total number of patients confirmed with COVID-19. Additionally, the researchers have proved that patients treated with both streptomycin and rifampicin had higher percentages of recovery from COVID-19 signs and symptoms, with 304 patients (21.72%) aged between 46 years and 55 years old and 305 patients (21.80%) aged between 56 years and 65 years. Individuals treated with both ceftriaxone and azithromycin showed good improvement [374 (25.16%) and 339 (22.81%) patients aged 36-55 years]. The present study also confirmed that the treatment using a combined form of rifampicin and streptomycin was more successful in 78% of males and 61% of females. Also, considering the treatment using both azithromycin and ceftriaxone, there was no change of improvement among the patients.
Conclusions: The combined form of rifampicin and streptomycin is seen to have a significant effect with a good immune response for treating COVID-19 patients.

How to cite this article:
AI-Musawi JFH. Effectiveness of Anti-TB Medicines in Treating Patients Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms. J Commun Dis. 2022;54(1):84-89.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202254

References

Merriam-Webster [Internet]. Available from: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coronavirusMerriam-Webster

Decaro N. Betacoronavirus. Tidona C, Darai G, editors. The Springer Index of Viruses; 2011. p. 385-401.

Decaro N. Alpha coronavirus. Tidona C, Darai G, editors. The Springer Index of Viruses. Springer; 2011. p.371-83. [Google Scholar]

Decaro N. Gamma coronavirus: Coronaviridae. Tidona C, Darai G, editors. The Springer Index of Viruses. Springer; 2011. p. 403-13.

Giaimo C [Internet]. The spiky blob seen around the world. The New York Times; [cited 2020 Apr 6]. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/health/coronavirus-illustration-cdc.html

Release. International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). 2019 Mar.

Holmes KV, Lai MMC. Coronaviridae: the viruses and their replication. In: Fields BN, Knipe DM, Howley PM, editors. Fundamental virology. New York: Academic; 1996.

Drugs.com [Internet]. Azithromycin International Brands; [cited 2017 Feb 27]. Available from: https://www.drugs.com/azithromycin.html

World Health Organization. World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019.

Taylor SP, Sellers E, Taylor BT. Azithromycin for the prevention of COPD exacerbations: the good, bad, and ugly. Am J Med. 2015;128(12):1362.e1-6. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Fischer J, Ganellin CR. Analogue-based drug discovery. John Wiley& Sons; 2006. 495 p. [Google Scholar]

Falco M [Internet]. New SARS-like virus poses medical mystery. CNN Health; [cited 2013 Mar 16]. Available from: https://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/24/new-sars-like-virus-poses-medical-mystery/?hpt=he_c2

Al-Jazeera [Internet]. New SARS-like virus found in Middle East; [cited 2013 Mar 16]. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2012/9/24/newsars-like-virus-found-in-middle-east

Fanta CH, Rossing TH, Mc Fadden Jr ER. Glucocorticoids in acute asthma. A critical controlled trial. Am J Med. 1983 May;74(5):845-51. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Kahn JS, McIntosh K. History and recent advances in coronavirus discovery. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2005;24(11Suppl):S223-7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Wang L, Wang Y, Ye D, Liu Q. Review of the 2019 novelcoronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) based on current evidence. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2020;55(6):105948. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Han X, Cao Y, Jiang N, Chen Y, Alwalid O, Zhang X, Gu J, Dai M, Liu J, Zhu W, Zheng C, Shi H. Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia progression course in 17 discharged patients: comparison of clinical and thin-section computed tomography features during recovery. Clin Infect Dis. 2020;71(15):723-31. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Law.moj.gov.tw [Internet]. Special act for prevention, relief and revitalization measures for severe pneumonia with novel pathogens; [cited 2020 May 10]. Available from: https://law.moj.gov.tw/ENG/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=L0050039

Sun Z, Thilakavathy K, Kumar SS, He G, Liu SV. Potential factors influencing repeated SARS out breaks in China. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Mar 3;17(5):1633. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Oxford English Dictionary [Internet]. COVID-19. Oxford University Press; [cited 2020 Apr 15]. Available from: https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/88575495

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. Symptoms of COVID-19; [cited 2020 Jun 18]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html

World Health Organization [Internet]. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19); [cited 2020 May 14]. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/question-and-answers-hub/qa-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19

Mishra L [Internet]. Anti-TB drugs protect against COVID-19?; [cited 2021 May 13]. Available from: https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/coronavirus/news/icmr-timeline-to-launch-covid-19-vaccine-unfeasibleindian-academy-ofsciences/articleshow/76800543.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Zhu N, Zhang D, Wang W, Li X, Yang B, Song J, Zhao X, Huang B, Shi W, Lu R, Niu P, Zhan F, Ma X, Wang D, Xu W, Wu G, Gao GF, Tan W; China Novel Coronavirus Investigating and Research Team. A Novel Coronavirus from patients with pneumonia in China, 2019. N Engl J Med. 2020;382(8):727-33. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]