Advisory issued by WB health dept for COVID-19 treatment

Admitting lapses in the clinical management of COVID-19 patients in state-run as well as private hospitals here, the state health department on Tuesday isued an advisory, including careful triaging of patients as per their symptoms.

Stating that a team of experts has spotted the gaps, the health department stressed that the COVID-19 top sheet, as suggested by its clinical management protocol should be properly maintained.

"The bed in-charges need to maintain their daily notes properly. There must be appropriate oxygen prescription mentioning the dose, appliance to be used and target saturation. This has to be closely monitored," the advisory added.

Steroids are to be administered if oxygen requirement increases and if inflammatory markers are increased it should be usually three to five days. Anticoagulant prophylaxis is to be given for moderate cases while in severe cases under appropriate circumstances, therapeutic dose may be used, it said.

Use of antibiotics should be guided by clinical situation and culture reports and appropriate management must be provided for comorbid conditions with specialist input, the advisory said.

Regular follow-up of patients with moderate/severe symptoms would allow early recognition of danger signs, timely clinical intervention and referral where required, it added.