Doha: Two articles about COVID-19 by a Sidra Medicine physician have been published in the long-established, peer-reviewed Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamic and on the open access platform Taylor & Francis Online.
The articles, Remdesivir in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and COVID-19 induced superimposed bacterial infection, were written by Dr. Mohamed Ata Hendaus-Rahal, senior attending physician in the department of general paediatrics at Sidra Medicine.
Dr. Hendaus-Rahal is also an Assistant Professor at Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar. The articles highlight Sidra Medicine’s increasing research and academic expertise in contributing towards addressing global challenges like COVID-19.
While the hospital does not treat COVID-19 patients, its research, pathology and healthcare professionals are playing an important role in supporting Qatar’s efforts to combat the virus through knowledge sharing in publications and in the development of new testing methods.
Dr. Hendaus-Rahal’s first article about the use of Remdesivir in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) highlights how the broad-spectrum antiviral medication has recently become a strong contender in the treatment of COVID-19.
Commenting on the first article, Dr. Hendaus-Rahal said: “Recent advances in molecular biology have shown that Remdesivir inhibits the replication (multiplication) of COVID-19 once it is inside the body, hence the individual has a better capacity to get rid of the illness. The medication appears to be effective and safe in the management of COVID-19 infection. Therefore, administering agents such as Remdesivir might be crucial for ensuring efficient treatment, decreasing mortality, and allowing early discharge.”
The second article highlights how increased levels of severe secondary bacterial infection in patients have been documented by healthcare providers. It is expected that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of patients will require initiation of first-hand antimicrobial treatment as the virus can potentially damage the protective layer of mucous in their windpipes; leading to an increased risk of bacterial infections.
The paper recommends the importance of programmes to control the proper use of antibiotics. “I personally felt it was a moral obligation to help share up-to-date information, especially in my capacity as a physician. The papers have been published with the ultimate goal of contributing to the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. I am encouraged to see that the papers have been cited several times and viewed by scholars in many countries. I truly hope that our concerted efforts will help end the pandemic,” concluded Dr. Hendaus-Rahal.