Infect Chemother.  2015 Sep;47(3):212-222. 10.3947/ic.2015.47.3.212.

Antiviral Treatment Guidelines for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Infectious Diseases, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Infectious Diseases, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 4Department of Infectious Diseases, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. hyoungsshin@gmail.com

Abstract

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by the new betacoronavirus (MERS coronavirus, MERS-CoV), which shows high mortality rates. The typical symptoms of MERS are fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and it is often accompanied by pneumonia. The MERS-CoV was introduced to Republic of Korea in May 2015 by a patient returning from Saudi Arabia. The disease spread mostly through hospital infections, and by the time the epidemic ended in August, the total number of confirmed diagnoses was 186, among which 36 patients died. Reflecting the latest evidence for antiviral drugs in the treatment of MERS-CoV infection and the experiences of treating MERS patients in Republic of Korea, these guidelines focus on antiviral drugs to achieve effective treatment of MERS-CoV infections.

Keyword

MERS; Coronavirus; Antiviral; Treatment

MeSH Terms

Antiviral Agents
Communicable Diseases
Coronavirus
Cough
Cross Infection
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Fever
Humans
Middle East*
Mortality
Pneumonia
Republic of Korea
Respiratory System
Saudi Arabia
Antiviral Agents

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Infect Chemother. 2015;47(4):278-302.    doi: 10.3947/ic.2015.47.4.278.

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the Republic of Korea
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Absence of neutralizing activity in serum 1 year after successful treatment with antivirals and recovery from MERS in South Korea
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Neurological Complications during Treatment of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome
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