Brief Summary of Potential SARS-CoV-2 Prophylactic and Treatment Drugs in the Emergency Department

West J Emerg Med. 2020 Mar 31;21(3):510-513. doi: 10.5811/westjem.2020.3.47328.

Abstract

As of March 30th, 2020 there were 161,807 total cases and 2,953 total deaths of SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, with the number of cases expected to rise. Other than supportive care, there are no SARS-CoV-2 specific treatments available for patients discharged from the emergency department (ED) or those admitted to the hospital. In addition, there are no vaccines available to protect our at-risk healthcare workers. The National Institutes of Health is conducting a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate for a potential vaccine and the recipients have started to receive the investigational vaccine.2 We present a brief overview of the potential prophylactic and treatment agents under investigation, some which could be initiated in the ED if proven effective.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment
  • COVID-19 Serotherapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / drug therapy
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / therapy*
  • Coronavirus*
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Humans
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / therapy*
  • Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • United States