Table 1.

Main antiviral treatments active in patients with viral pneumonia

Main indication for the treatment	Medication	Dosage	Notes
Uncomplicated Influenza Influenza pneumonia	Oseltamivir	Oral 75 mg twice daily for 5 days	Dose adjustment for CrCl < 50 ml/’
	Peramivir	Intravenous 600 mg single dose (5 days for complicated Influenza)	Efficacy is not established for severe Influenza A and for Influenza B
	Zanamivir	Intravenous 300 mg daily for 5–10 days 10 mg inhaled q12hr for 5–10 days	Bronchospasm can occur in patients with asthma
RSV infection in immunocompromised	Ribavirin	Aerosolized 2 g over 2 h every 8 h Systemic oral or intravenous (dosage variable)	Inhalatory formulation can deposit in the delivery system if ventilated Hemolytic anemia Teratogenic
Severe adenovirus infection	Cidofovir	Intravenous 5 mg/kg/weekly, until symptoms resolve	Very limited data Nephrotoxicity
Varicella pneumonitis	Acyclovir	Intravenous 10 mg/kg/dose every 8 h for at least 7 days	Nephrotoxicity
CMV pneumonia	Ganciclovir	Intravenous 5 mg/kg/dose every 12 h for at least 2 weeks	Hematologic toxicity Nephrotoxicity (dose adjustment for CrCl < 70)
COVID-19	Remdesivir	Day 1 loading dose: 200 mg IV over 30–120 min Day 2—6: 100 mg IV q Day	Hepatotoxicity

CMV cytomegalovirus, CrCl creatinine clearance, HCW healthcare workers, HMPV human metapneumovirus, PIV parainfluenza viruses, RSV respiratory syncytial virus