BACK

Does the antibiotic Levotop 500 treat, prevent or cure COVID-19?

Does the antibiotic Levotop 500 treat, prevent or cure COVID-19?

This article was published on
September 8, 2020

This explainer is more than 90 days old. Some of the information might be out of date or no longer relevant. Browse our homepage for up to date content or request information about a specific topic from our team of scientists.

This article has been translated from its original language. Please reach out if you have any feedback on the translation.

Levotop 500 is an antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is an infection caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, Levotop 500 is not a medication that is effective in preventing, treating or curing COVID-19. Levotop is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, gastroenteritis and chronic bronchitis.  Some antibiotics are being used in patients who are initially hospitalized because of COVID-19 to treat "co-infections" or "superinfections." Co-infections can occur when a COVID-19 patient also has a second infection, or catches one while hospitalized, and needs antibiotics to treat the second infection. Superinfections can happen on top or after an existing infection. It is possible that a hospitalized COVID-19 patient's immune system is weaker than normal, making it more vulnerable for all kinds of infections from germs, including bacteria.

Levotop 500 is an antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is an infection caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, Levotop 500 is not a medication that is effective in preventing, treating or curing COVID-19. Levotop is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, gastroenteritis and chronic bronchitis.  Some antibiotics are being used in patients who are initially hospitalized because of COVID-19 to treat "co-infections" or "superinfections." Co-infections can occur when a COVID-19 patient also has a second infection, or catches one while hospitalized, and needs antibiotics to treat the second infection. Superinfections can happen on top or after an existing infection. It is possible that a hospitalized COVID-19 patient's immune system is weaker than normal, making it more vulnerable for all kinds of infections from germs, including bacteria.

Publication

What our experts say

Levotop 500 is an antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is an infection caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, Levotop 500 is not a medication that is effective in preventing, treating or curing COVID-19. Levotop is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, gastroenteritis and chronic bronchitis. 

Some antibiotics are being used in patients who are initially hospitalized because of COVID-19 to treat "co-infections" or "superinfections."

Co-infections can occur when a COVID-19 patient also has a second infection, or catches one while hospitalized, and needs antibiotics to treat the second infection. Superinfections can happen on top or after an existing infection. It is possible that a hospitalized COVID-19 patient's immune system is weaker than normal, making it more vulnerable for all kinds of infections from germs, including bacteria.

Levotop 500 is an antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is an infection caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, Levotop 500 is not a medication that is effective in preventing, treating or curing COVID-19. Levotop is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, gastroenteritis and chronic bronchitis. 

Some antibiotics are being used in patients who are initially hospitalized because of COVID-19 to treat "co-infections" or "superinfections."

Co-infections can occur when a COVID-19 patient also has a second infection, or catches one while hospitalized, and needs antibiotics to treat the second infection. Superinfections can happen on top or after an existing infection. It is possible that a hospitalized COVID-19 patient's immune system is weaker than normal, making it more vulnerable for all kinds of infections from germs, including bacteria.

Context and background

Antibiotics like Levotop 500 are antibacterial medications that either slow down or destroy the growth of bacteria. They are used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria. The COVID-19 disease is caused by an infection with a virus, not a bacteria. COVID-19 is a disease that is a type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Because viruses and bacteria are different, the illnesses that they cause cannot be treated by the same type of medication. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections like COVID-19.

Antibiotics like Levotop 500 are antibacterial medications that either slow down or destroy the growth of bacteria. They are used to treat infections that are caused by bacteria. The COVID-19 disease is caused by an infection with a virus, not a bacteria. COVID-19 is a disease that is a type of coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause diseases such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Because viruses and bacteria are different, the illnesses that they cause cannot be treated by the same type of medication. Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections like COVID-19.

Resources

Media briefing

Media Release

Expert Comments: 

No items found.

Q&A

No items found.