Coronavirus disease 2019: A comprehensive review on recent clinical updates and management tools for pharmacists

Bhargab Deka Bhargab,Gargi Das Gargi Das,Santa Sarma Santa Sarma,Bedanta Bhattacharjee Bedanta Bhattacharjee,Taslima Akhter Rohman Taslima Akhter Rohman,Tanmay Sarma Tanmay Sarma,Richa Sonowal Richa Sonowal,Bidisha Bordoloi Bidisha Bordoloi,Abu Md Ashif Ikbal Abu Md Ashif Ikbal,Biswajit Dash Biswajit Dash,Shamima Nasreen Ahmed Shamima Nasreen Ahmed,Bharjil Bingari Bharjil Bingari,Ashique Ahmed Ashique Ahmed,Alakesh Bharali, Alakesh Bharali,,Pinkan Sadhukan Pinkan Sadhukan,Arzoo Newar Arzoo Newar

doi:10.20510/pbj/9/i3/1363

Abstract

In the Hubei region of China, a pneumonia outbreak occurred in December 2019, which was confirmed to be caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). It quickly became known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 or simply COVID-19, a pandemic that continues to devastate countries across the world. Through this COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacists across the globe have continued to offer direct patient care and provided frontline service to society. However, while the frontline staff is heralded, they are relegated to the background and overlooked most of the time. The most reachable healthcare providers are pharmacists because they can provide direct medical services despite tight regulations and restrictions related to the pandemic. During this pandemic, the involvement of pharmacists to handle COVID-19 and its complications proved to be crucial in alleviating the burden on the already strained healthcare system. They have provided very important services such as distributing medications to patients, encouraging adherence to medications for better control of chronic diseases, consulting on minor illnesses, clarifying myths regarding COVID-19, and contributing to COVID-19 screening. The treatment or management of COVID-19 was based on initial findings but is now being updated several times based on viral mutation, different studies across the globe, etc. This review focuses on recent clinical updates and tools that would help pharmacists with a more systematic approach to properly handling COVID-19 and its complications.

Highlights

On 29th December 2019, four individuals showed up at a hospital in Wuhan, China
The Chinese authorities have alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) to a new potentially serious respiratory virus and are well known to be responsible for millions of atypical respiratory infections worldwide 1
The disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is named as coronavirus disease 19 or COVID-19, has quickly spread at an unprecedented rate across the world and was declared a pandemic by WHO on March 11, 2020 2

Summary

INTRODUCTION

On 29th December 2019, four individuals showed up at a hospital in Wuhan, China. They all had pneumonia and worked in a particular market of seafood and live animals, which was a coincidence enough to attract local health experts two days later. Individuals with poorer socioeconomic status, especially people of color, are more likely to have untreated comorbid conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, which can contribute to more severe symptoms of COVID-19 20 These populations experience significant variability in social determinants of health, such as lower-income, less education, and fewer options for access to quality health care. Almost 10 months later, the debate remains at large and the findings remain the same as well: there is no conclusive evidence to avoid the use of NSAIDs, including ibuprofen, in patients with COVID-19 This started with a theoretical basis on how ibuprofen works in vitro, that it may upregulate ACE-II receptors, leading to an increased entry into the cells of the virus[31,34].

Conclusion

CONCLUSION

Findings

Summary of Guidance for Public Health