Pharmacologic Treatments and Supportive Care for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Emerging infectious diseases
Volume 26, Issue 6

Kain, Taylor; Lindsay, Patrick J.; Adhikari, Neill K. J.; Arabi, Yaseen M.; Van Kerkhove, Maria D.; Fowler, Robert A.

Abstract

Available animal and cell line models have suggested that specific therapeutics might be effective in treating Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). We conducted a systematic review of evidence for treatment with pharmacologic and supportive therapies. We developed a protocol and searched 5 databases for studies describing treatment of MERS and deaths in MERS patients. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed by using ROBINS-I tool. We retrieved 3,660 unique citations; 20 observational studies met eligibility, and we studied 13 therapies. Most studies were at serious or critical RoB; no studies were at low RoB. One study, at moderate RoB, showed reduced mortality rates in severe MERS patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; no other studies showed a significant lifesaving benefit to any treatment. The existing literature on treatments for MERS is observational and at moderate to critical RoB. Clinical trials are needed to guide treatment decisions.

Keywords

RCT; Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment; Epidemiology

Correction To: COVID-19: A Novel Coronavirus And A Novel Challenge For Critical Care

Intensive Care Medicine

Arabi, Y. M.; Murthy, S.; Webb, S.

Introduction

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. There was an error in table one: in the last row, second column the part “Still being defined to” should be crossed out. The correct Table 1 can be found below. We apologize for the mistake.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment