Role of Mycobacterium W as an adjunct therapy in outcome of Moderate and Severe COVID-19 patients

Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has varying clinical manifestations, often worsening in moderate to severe cases due to an exacerbated immune response. Mycobacterium W, an atypical mycobacterium, offers potential benefits as an immunomodulatory agent in severe COVID-19 cases by regulating immune response and mitigating cytokine storm. Methods: This observational study evaluated the efficacy of heat-killed Mycobacterium W as an adjunct therapy in 585 hospitalized COVID-19 patients categorized into two groups: the study group (279 patients) and the standard of care group (306 patients). The study, conducted over 18 months at Government Medical College, Srinagar, assessed clinical outcomes, inflammatory markers, and hospital stay durations. Results: Patients treated with Mycobacterium W showed a statistically significant reduction in hospital stay days (median of 10.87 days vs. 13.62 days, p<0.001), lower requirements for oxygen support, and improvements in inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6, D-dimer) compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in mortality between the groups. Conclusion: Mycobacterium W as add-on therapy in moderate to severe COVID-19 patients appears to enhance recovery by modulating immune responses and reducing inflammatory damage. These findings suggest that Mycobacterium W can be considered a beneficial adjunct treatment in managing severe COVID-19 cases.