J Med Virol . Repurposing of Mycobacterium indicus pranii for the severe form of COVID -19 patients in India: A cohort study

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J Med Virol


. 2021 Dec 23.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.27547. Online ahead of print.
Repurposing of Mycobacterium indicus pranii for the severe form of COVID -19 patients in India: A cohort study


Naveed Nazir Shah ¹ , Khurshid Ahmad Dar ¹ , Syed Quibtiya ² , Aaliya Mohi Ud Din Azad ¹ , Mehvish Mushtaq ¹ , Showkeen Muzamil Bashir ³ , Muzafar Ahmad Rather ³ , Sofi Imtiyaz Ali ³ , Wajid Mohammad Sheikh ³ , Showkat Ul Nabi ⁴



Affiliations

• PMID: 34951021
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27547

Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, which results in cytokine storm, and immune-modulators like Mycobacterium indicus pranii (MIP) might ameliorate COVID -19 related cytokine storm. Therefore, the present study evaluates whether MIP offers an advantage in the treatment of severe COVID -19 patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Prospective MIP cohort Study was conducted in chest disease hospitals in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In the present prospective, randomized clinical study, critically severe COVID -19 patients were divided into two groups, the MIP group (n=105) and Best Standard Treatment group (n=210). Procalcitonin, Ferritin, Hs-CRP (High Sensitive C Reactive Protein), D-dimer levels and Interleukin levels on 5^th -day post-treatment were significantly reduced in the MIP group compared to the BST group. Compared to the BST group, 105 consecutive patients with severe COVID -19 in the MIP group reported early weaning off mechanical ventilation, resolution of chest architecture (CT scan), significant increase in SpO₂ levels and decreased mortality with hazard ratio-0.234 (95% CI-0.264-2.31) (p-value-0.001). MIP restored SpO₂ , immune/inflammatory response, normalized lung abnormalities (Chest CT scan), and reduced mortality without any serious complications. However, there is a need for placebo-controlled double-blind and controlled clinical trials to confirm the efficacy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: COVID -19; Mechanical ventilation; Mycobacterium indicus pranii; interleukins; proinflammatory response and Oxygen saturation.