Use less antibiotics for treatment: Docs

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, March 18

Lesser use of antibiotics and blood thinners, giving steroids at the right time and no use of zinc supplements is what the doctors will now be focussing while treating Covid patients.

While diagnosing the patients, there is no need for getting LDL and ferritin tests done and blood test for only hemogram, CRP and blood sugar levels will be enough.

The new treatment and diagnostic methods were discussed by the Covid-19 state-level task force. Clinical guidance for management of Covid-19 as a single reference point for all healthcare providers of Punjab was also issued.

Dr Bishav Mohan, senior cardiologist at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital and member of Covid-19 task force formed by state government, said after treating patients for a year, certain observations were made by the doctors from across the state, according to which changes have been made in terms of diagnostic and treatment of Covid patients.

“The main point that came forward was less use of antibiotics for treating Covid patients. For home isolation patients, antibiotics will be required only for secondary infection and for moderate patients also, antibiotics will be given only if required. Zinc supplements have been taken off as there was no potential benefit derived from them while giving Vitamin C will be continued as it is an anti-oxidant and can fight oxidative damage,” said Dr Bishav Mohan.

He further clarified that steroids were not magic bullets. “Steroids prove useful only if given at the right time. There is no use of giving steroids at late stage. There should be limited use of blood thinners and should be given as and when required as they tend to increase bleeding in some patients due to fatty liver,” said Dr Mohan.

Discussing about the diagnosis, he said that there was no need for getting LDL and ferritin only hemogram and CRP and blood sugar level would suffice. In addition to this, lesser use of CT scan should be done and only PCR Test should be done to determine Covid.

Lie on stomach for more oxygen flow

Asking the patients to lie on their stomachs called prone positioning helps increase the amount of oxygen that’s getting to their lungs. “It is a simple thing but we have seen remarkable improvement after making the patients to lie on their stomach as it helps in increasing the oxygen saturation level,” said Dr Bishav Mohan.

Warning symptoms for HOME isolation patients

• Difficulty in breathing
• Persistent pain/ pressure in the chest
• Mental confusion or inability to arouse
• Developing bluish discoloration of lips/face
• Decreased urine output