Guideline

Therapeutics and COVID-19. Living guideline. 7 December 2021

Year of Publication

2021

Issuing Institution

World Health Organization

Links

Recommendations

11 included recommendations

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against administering hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for treatment of patients with COVID-19. This recommendation applies to patients with any disease severity and any duration of symptoms.

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends against administering lopinavir/ritonavir for treatment of COVID-19. This recommendation applies to patients with any disease severity and any duration of symptoms.

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Therapeutics and COVID-19. The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests against administering remdesivir in addition to usual care

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends systemic corticosteroids rather than no corticosteroids for patients with severe and critical COVID-19 infection.

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

The World Health Organization (WHO) suggests not to use corticosteroids for patients with non-severe COVID-19 infection.

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

For patients with non-severe COVID-19 (who do not meet criteria for severe or critical infection). The WHO recommends against administering convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

For patients with severe or critical COVID-19. The WHO recommends not to use convalescent plasma for treatment of COVID-19, except in the context of a clinical trial

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

For patients with non-severe COVID-19 (who do not meet criteria for severe or critical infection). The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab, conditional to those at highest risk of hospitalization.

Status

Retired

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

For patients with severe or critical COVID-19. The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab, under the condition that the patient has seronegative status. Remark: Treatment with casirivimab and imdevimab is in addition to the current standard of care, which includes corticosteroids and IL-6 receptor blockers.

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends treatment with IL-6 receptor blockers (tocilizumab or sarilumab) for patients with severe or critical COVID-19 infection.

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

We recommend not to use ivermectin in patients with COVID-19 except in the context of a clinical trial

Status

Maintained

Recommended against

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Very low