Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings

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dc.contributor.authorAbena, Pascale M.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDecloedt, Eric H.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBottieau, Emmanuelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSuleman, Fatimaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAdejumo, Priscaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSam-Agudu, Nadia A.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorTamFum, Jean-Jacques Muyembeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorSeydi, Moussaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorEholie, Serge P.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMills, Edward J.en_ZA
dc.contributor.authorKallay, Oscaren_ZA
dc.contributor.authorZumla, Alimuddinen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorNachega, Jean B.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2020-04-28T11:39:30Z
dc.date.available2020-04-28T11:39:30Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.descriptionCITATION: Abena, P. M. et al. 2020. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 00(0), 2020, pp. 1–5, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at https://www.ajtmh.org
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 pandemic has spread to Africa, where nearly all countries have reported laboratory-confirmed cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Although there are ongoing clinical trials of repurposed and investigational antiviral and immune-based therapies, there are as yet no scientifically proven, clinically effective pharmacological treatments for COVID-19. Among the repurposed drugs, the commonly used antimalarials chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) havebecome the focus of global scientific, media, and political attention despite a lack of randomized clinical trials supporting their efficacy. Chloroquine has been used worldwide for about 75 years and is listed by theWHOas an essential medicine to treat malaria. Hydroxychloroquine is mainly used as a therapy for autoimmune diseases. However, the efficacy and safety of CQ/HCQ for the treatment of COVID-19 remains to be defined. Indiscriminate promotion and widespread use of CQ/HCQ have led to extensive shortages, self-treatment, and fatal overdoses. Shortages and increased market prices leave all countries vulnerable to substandard and falsified medical products, and safety issues are especially concerning for Africa because of its healthcare system limitations. Much needed in Africa is a cross-continental collaborative network for coordinated production, distribution, and post-marketing surveillance aligned to low-cost distribution of any approved COVID-19 drug; this would ideally be piggybacked on existing global aid efforts. Meanwhile, African countries should strongly consider implementing prescription monitoring schemes to ensure that any off-label CQ/HCQ use is appropriate and beneficial during this pandemic.en_ZA
dc.description.versionPre-print
dc.format.extent5 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAbena, P. M. et al. 2020. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settings. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 00(0), 2020, pp. 1–5, doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290.
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-0290
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/107738
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherAmerican Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygieneen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectCOVID-19 (Disease)en_ZA
dc.subjectChloroquineen_ZA
dc.subjectCoronavirus infectionsen_ZA
dc.subjectCoronavirus disease 19 -- Treatmenten_ZA
dc.subjectCoronavirus disease 19 -- Preventionen_ZA
dc.subjectHydroxychloroquineen_ZA
dc.titleChloroquine and hydroxychloroquine for the prevention or treatment of Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in Africa : caution for inappropriate off-label use in healthcare settingsen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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