U.S. NIH Updates COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines

The U.S. NIH's updated COVID-19 Clinical Guidelines clarify the spectrum of disease management includes asymptomatic or presymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and mild, moderate, severe, and critical illness.

Published on Feb. 24, 2022, the NIH says the 'management of nonhospitalized patients with acute COVID-19 should include considering the use of COVID-19-specific therapy for patients who have a high risk for disease progression.'

'And taking steps to reduce the risk of future SARS-CoV-2 transmission.'

To support these NIH recommendations, the U.S. FDA has authorized various monoclonal antibody therapies and oral antivirals.

These therapeutic options are now available for the treatment of nonhospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of disease progression.

Several factors may affect the selection of the best treatment option for a specific patient.

These factors include the clinical efficacy and availability of the treatment option, the feasibility of administering parenteral medications (i.e., sotrovimab or remdesivir), the potential for significant drug-drug interactions (e.g., those associated with the use of ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir [Paxlovid]), and the regional prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

'The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel is committed to updating this document to ensure that health care providers, patients, and policy experts have the most recent information regarding the optimal management of COVID-19,' stated the NIH.