Currently, researchers in various countries are conducting intensive studies to explain why some patients have a very rapid course of infection. Genetic predisposition is thought to be the key, as well as the "cytokine storm" phenomenon involving the body's excessive immune response to infection. In the light of recent studies, it appears that the major cytokine produced in excess in SARS-CoV-2 infection is interleukin IL-6.
The researchers' findings are crucial - the more we know about the pathomechanism of the infection, the more likely we are to succeed in the search for drugs that act against the virus.
There are 5849 clinical trials of drugs against COVID-19 underway worldwide, of which 29% involve drugs already known, such as remdesivir, tocilizumab, favipiravir, ritonavir, lopinavir.
During the conference, experts unanimously stressed that the list of questions related to COVID-19, to which we do not yet know the answers, is long, for instance, it is still unknown how the infection of a pregnant woman will affect the development of the child in the perspective of long-term observation, or how air pollution (smog) worsens the course of infection.
The conference participants also drew attention to the occurrence of other infectious diseases and stressed the need for vaccinations and tests to prevent the worsening of the epidemiological situation. The list of so-called "re-emerging diseases" includes tuberculosis (due to the phenomenon of multi-resistant mycobacteria) and influenza (due to its pandemic potential and its ability to cross the interspecies barrier). The spread of multi-resistant bacteria is also a constant threat due to the overuse of antibiotics.
The lectures were complemented by interactive workshops that allowed the participants to make therapeutic decisions and jointly discuss with the experts the validity of their therapeutic choices. Separate workshops were devoted to patient safety in the context of hospital infection prevention. During other activities, the participants had the opportunity to assess the accuracy of balanced diets and learn about contemporary principles of social communication in a public health crisis.
The conference was attended by 300 participants who listened to dozens of lectures delivered by prominent experts in their fields: clinicians, researchers in basic sciences, public health specialists. The event, under the patronage of HM Rector of the MUW, the Chief Sanitary Inspector and the Polish Society of Social Medicine and Public Health, was organized under the "Excellent Science" grant of the Ministry of Education and Science.