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KHN Guidance Regarding Treatment of COVID-19 Patients

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Kettering Health Network is updating guidance for physicians providing treatment for COVID-19 patients.  The following is based on increasing reports in the literature as well as NIH and IDSA Treatment Guidelines:

  1. Hydroxychloroquine: There are insufficient clinical data to recommend either for or against using chloroquine or hydroxychloroquine for the treatment of COVID-19.
    • If hydroxychloroquine is used, clinicians should monitor the patient for adverse effects, especially prolonged QTc interval.
    • Pharmacy will resume dispensing hydroxychloroquine for non-COVID related conditions. Patients will not be required to bring in their home supply for chronic conditions.
  2. Hydroxychloroquine + Azithromycin: The Pharmacy Department completed a Drug Utilization Evaluation (DUE) and found 87% of patients receiving hydroxychloroquine for COVID treatment also received azithromycin.
    • Except in the context of a clinical trial, KHN recommends against the use of the combination of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin because of the potential for toxicities.  At present we have no access to such a trial so this combination should not be used.
  3. Azithromycin:  There are no data to support the use of azithromycin as a single drug to treat COVID-19.
  4. Statins: KHN recommends against the use of statins for the treatment of COVID-19 outside of the setting of a clinical trial.  If a statin is started solely for the purpose of treating COVID-19 it should be discontinued at discharge.
April 23, 2020
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