According to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, azithromycin appears to be no more effective in preventing COVID-19 among non-hospitalized patients compared to a placebo, and may likely heighten their odds of hospital admission.

The study enroled 263 participants who had tested positive for COVID-19 within seven days prior to being included in the study. None of the study subjects were hospitalized at the time of enrolment. Overall, 171 participants were randomized to receive a single oral dose of azithromycin while 92 participants were given a placebo. On day 14, 50% of the participants continued to be symptom-free in both study arms. By day 21, 5 participants in the azithromycin group had been admitted to a hospital with severe symptoms while none of the participants in the placebo group had been admitted. The study concluded that treatment with a single dose of azithromycin did not lead to a higher chance of being free of symptoms, in comparison with placebo… (ET Healthworld – PTI, July 19, 2021)