Daily Lankadeepa E-Paper

Misuse of antibiotics in COVID-19

COVID-19 is a viral infection, says Dr. Sam an ma lee Gun a se kara, stressing that antibiotics are not medications that should be prescribed for viruses.

She concedes that there have been many instances when some doctors have regrettably prescribed antibiotics on Day 1 of COVID-19. There has been heavy use of clarithromycin during this period without any indication for such use.

Antibiotics should only be given if there is a secondary bacterial infection after about a week of being affected by COVID-19. The signs of such a bacterial infection should be confirmed through a clinical examination supported by blood tests and X-rays, she points out.

Dr. Gunasekara adds: “Otherwise, if from Day 1 a patient is given an antibiotic, if he/she develops severe disease such as pneumonia, the doctors are not left with any antibiotics to combat it but will have to go in for 3rdline antibiotics.”

COVID-19

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2021-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-21T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://dailylankadeepa.pressreader.com/article/281724092810005

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