Experts moot judicious steroid use, no brooms
The report is going to provide doctors with guidelines on early diagnosis, management, and prevention of Covid-19 associated mucormycosis
RADHA KRISHNA DHIMAN, SGPGIMS director
LUCKNOW : The eight-member expert committee constituted for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 associated mucormycosis (CAM) has recommended an amendment to home Isolation protocols, judicious use of steroids and abolition of use of brooms in patient care areas.
Instead, mopping to keep the area clean and control the outbreak of disease in the near future was recommended.
The committee, led by Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) director Radha Krishna Dhiman has forwarded its report to the chief minister with its recommendations.
Discouraging steroid selfmedication, the PGI director said, “Steroids must be used under supervision of experts only. Covid-19 patients, when not requiring oxygen, should not be given steroids. Similarly, home isolation care protocols must be amended to incorporate information about good glycemic control.”
The report highlights that the adverse effects of steroids take around 15 days from the date of discontinuation of steroids to disappear. Therefore, one has to keep a watch on patients given high steroids. Such patients must avoid exposure to sites under-construction and dusty places for some time.
Dhiman said, “The report stresses on amendments in home isolation care protocols, with warning about the risk of mucormycosis in diabetics and those on steroids. Besides the committee has laid emphasis on abolition of use of brooms in patient care areas; wet mopping, at least three times a day should be promoted to avoid diseases like mucormycosis in the near future.
“The report is going to provide doctors with guidelines on early diagnosis, management, and prevention of CAM. At the same time, the objective is to educate the medical community and to promote a rational use of steroids and antifungal drugs to prevent CAM.
“Besides, we have advised maintaining appropriate air quality in all AHU and AC vents must be regularly cleaned and filters changed regularly.”