NATIONAL NEWS - Following the announcement of a breakthrough made in a UK-based therapeutic trial for COVID-19 management, the National Essential Medicines List Committee is currently updating their recommendations on the use of corticosteroids in COVID-19 to include dexamethasone as a treatment.
The study in the UK has found that the use of dexamethasone, a well-known and widely used steroid which has potent anti-inflammatory properties, reduced deaths among COVID-19 patients by one-third in ventilated patients and by one fifth in other patients receiving oxygen only.
There was no benefit among those patients who did not require respiratory support.
The use of corticosteroids for the treatment of COVID-19 in South Africa is currently defined in the National Department of Health’s Clinical Management of Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19 Disease (version 4, 18 May 2020). In summary, it states that ‘Given lack of effectiveness and possible harm previously seen, routine corticosteroids should be avoided unless they are indicated for other reasons, such as an asthma or COPD exacerbation."
The Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 has issued an advisory in which it says there are important aspects of the results that will be needed to make a full assessment of the data, such as the number and type of adverse events in the dexamethasone treatment vs the standard care.
"This is critical information needed to provide definitive guidance. Data on the absolute risk reduction and the numbers of events per patient group will also be needed to fully interpret the evidence provided.
In the interim, it advises that the treatment of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 who are on mechanical ventilation as well as patients requiring oxygen support but who are not mechanically ventilated."
Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in a media statement he was very excited about the breakthrough. "The results are extremely promising and are easily implementable in our country."
57 more COVID-19 deaths
In the latest COVID-19 update as of 16 June, the Health Department states that it has recorded 57 COVID-19 deaths in the previous 24 hours, 44 from Western Cape, 9 from the Eastern Cape, and 4 from KwaZulu Natal. This brings the total national recorded deaths to 1 625. This translates to a mortality rate of 2,1%, according to the department's statement.
The number of COVID-19 infections recorded by the department as of 16 June is 76 334. To date 42 063 people (55,1%) have recovered.
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