Emergency Medicine Journal COVID-19 monthly top five

Edited by Dr Gabrielle Prager on behalf of the RCEM COVID-19 CPD team \n\nFollowing from the successful ‘RCEM weekly top five’ series starting in April 2020, this is the third of a monthly format for EMJ readers. We have undertaken a focused search of the PubMed literature using a standardised COVID-19 search string. Our search between 1 December and 31 December 2020 returned 1183 papers limited to human subjects and English language. We also searched high impact journals for papers of interest.\n\nOur team have narrowed down the most interesting, relevant and important of the papers and provided a critical snapshot of five of those we felt most deserved EMJ reader attention. Importantly, we have highlighted not only the main findings from the papers but also key limitations and considerations for EM clinicians when interpreting the work. In doing so we have created an accessible window into pertinent research findings for our busy colleagues during this fast-paced and ever-changing COVID-19 landscape.\n\nThe papers are ranked in one of three categories, allowing you to focus on those that are most vital to your practice:\n\nThis month’s searches were undertaken by the Centre for Urgent and Emergency Care Research at the University of Sheffield. We look forward to next month’s instalment by our colleagues in Leicester.\n\n### Topic: treatment\n\n#### Rating: game changer\n\nIn March 2020, the WHO recommended randomised trials into potential treatments for COVID-19. Experts agreed on four antiviral drugs that could be repurposed to reduce mortality in this patient group. The four drugs were remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir and interferon beta-1a.\n\nWithin a month a large international, open-label randomised trial was launched at 405 hospitals in 30 different countries. There was no placebo group; the control group consisted …