CAN ANTIBIOTICS TREAT OR PREVENT COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)?

CAN ANTIBIOTICS TREAT OR PREVENT COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS)?

Antibiotics do not treat viruses but are only effective against bacterial infections. People with COVID-19 may receive antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections. Researchers are currently carrying out investigations to see if other drugs could be potential treatment options for COVID-19.

Antibiotics only work against bacteria, not viruses. COVID-19 is caused by a virus. Patients with COVID-19 may receive antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that occur at the same time. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), antibiotics are not effective in the treatment of COVID-19, which the new corona virus causes. Antibiotics can only treat bacterial infections, not viruses. If people are receiving hospital treatment for COVID-19, and doctors may prescribe antibiotics for secondary bacterial infections.

Antibiotics are not effective in preventing or treating the 2019 corona virus that causes the respiratory illness known as COVID-19. What’s more, misusing antibiotics can result in them not working due to the development of antimicrobial resistance.

With so many myths and misconceptions around corona virus 2019, it’s important to understand that COVID 19 is caused by a virus and therefore cannot be treated with antibiotics. The new corona virus causes a respiratory infection that can weaken the immune system. This impact can increase the risk of getting a bacterial infection, which the individual may find harder to fight off.

“Antibiotics do not work against any virus, whether it’s the seasonal influenza virus or the new 2019 corona virus,” says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Discovery Health’s Head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence. “Antibiotics only work on bacterial infections, so they cannot prevent or treat Covid 19.”

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