Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- “There is currently no evidence that any of the drugs reduces mortality in COVID-19.” This opinion was voiced by Canadian experts during the next webinar organized by the National Chamber of Innovative Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This was reported by the press service of the National Chamber of Innovative Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The online discussion held on 18 June 2020 was the next event in the cycle conducted by the National Chamber together with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. The authoritative speaker this time was Dr. Lynn Johnston, a professor at the University of Dalhousie, as well as a medical practitioner at the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Sciences Center in Halifax (Nova Scotia, Canada).

The webinar’s participants, which are about 60 specialists, were very interested in the speaker’s opinion about the drugs used to treat COVID-19.

They are currently based on antiviral drugs, as well as agents using agents that have a certain effect on the immune system. In particular, immunoglobulins, which can contact the virus and prevent it from spreading. However, the mechanism of their action must be confirmed by the serious clinical trials that are currently underway.

“There is currently no evidence that any of the drugs reduces mortality in COVID-19,” said Lynn Johnston. At the same time, she considers interesting a recent study by the University of Oxford, so far distributed at the level of information about the effectiveness of a drug such as dexamethasone, which is used for patients with mechanical ventilation (IVL). Researchers believe that in this case, dexamethasone increases by a third the chances of survival of severe patients on the ventilator, and by one fifth in patients who require additional oxygen. Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticosteroid with anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

As Lynn Johnston emphasized, any conclusions need to be confirmed in the course of serious clinical trials, and of particular interest in this case is the study for which category of COVID-19 infected patients the use of this glucocorticosteroid was effective.

Also, according to Lynn Johnston, the experience of combating the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic infection also makes it possible to say that the use of special medical respirators is only available to medical professionals who are associated with an increased risk of transmission of the infection by airborne droplets, for example, for dentists.

In other cases, masks and eye protection (glasses, face shields) that are already familiar to everyone reliably block even doctors working with patients infected with COVID-19 from transmission of infection. An important factor in order to avoid infection is also the definition of a sick person, the ability to recognize the corresponding symptoms. As the speaker noted, people with an asymptomatic COVID-19 course are no more than 20-30% of the total number of infected. This, in particular, shows the experience of China, the information that it shares.

The strategies of countries regarding compliance with the “mask regime” vary, and different states disagree in precisely following WHO recommendations in this direction. However, in favor of wearing masks and protecting the eyes, the fact is that COVID-19 infection predominantly occurs by airborne droplets — through the spread of aerosol particles when coughing or sneezing. At the same time, small particles - less than 5 microns (microns or micrometers) are able to spread over a considerable distance - up to 6-8 meters and stay in the air for some time. Therefore, a mask and goggles will protect a person even in the absence of a sick person nearby - for example, in an elevator from which he just left.

“The experience gained during the pandemic suggests that COVID-19 can mainly be transmitted through small aerosols and this should be prevented,” said the speaker.

During the webinar, she also answered numerous questions from the participants. In particular, experts were interested in why initially WHO did not recommend the use of glucocorticosteroids for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. According to L. Johnston, the reason is that at the time of adoption of this recommendation by WHO, the results of studies on this issue were contradictory.

Also, to the question of whether there is a negative effect from the drugs used in the treatment of COVID-19, the Canadian specialist replied that there are certain undesirable effects and that is why their clinical trials are so important.

At the end of the webinar, President of the National Chamber Rovshan Izamov thanked the speaker for the productive meeting, noting the great interest of the participants in this online discussion to the conclusions of Canadian experts. “The cycle of joint events with Canadian partners has become not only relevant