The Role of Remdesivir in South Africa: Preventing COVID-19 Deaths Through Increasing Intensive Care Unit Capacity

Clin Infect Dis. 2021 May 4;72(9):1642-1644. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa937.

Abstract

Countries such as South Africa have limited intensive care unit (ICU) capacity to handle the expected number of patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU care. Remdesivir can prevent deaths in countries such as South Africa by decreasing the number of days people spend in ICU, therefore freeing up ICU bed capacity.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; hospital bed capacity; intensive care; mathematical model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Monophosphate / analogs & derivatives
  • Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • COVID-19 Drug Treatment*
  • Humans
  • Intensive Care Units
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • South Africa / epidemiology

Substances

  • remdesivir
  • Adenosine Monophosphate
  • Alanine