KOCHI: In what can be a landmark achievement in the treatment of Covid-19 in the state, test results of a British national who was administered antiretroviral drugs, normally used for the treatment of HIV patients, at Government Medical College, Ernakulam are negative. With this, more patients can be given these drugs and get faster and more accurate results.It was on March 18 that that the British national was given antiretroviral drugs on an experimental basis. “His two samples have been tested negative. If we give it to relatively young patients at an early stage, the drugs will yield results. It is huge encouragement for the entire team engaged in the treatment of the disease,” Dr Fathauddeen, nodal officer for Covid-19, Government Medical College, Ernakulam told TOI. “We have already administered the drug to another patient,” he said.The British national, along with his wife and other 16 compatriots, had tried to board a flight to Dubai from Cochin International Airport while they were undergoing quarantine at Tea Country Hotel in Munnar on March 15, the very day when he was tested positive for Covid-19. Six more persons in his team are undergoing treatment at the medical college. Though his wife also is admitted to the medical college, her tests results showed negative.According to the medical college authorities, the British national was suffering from severe pneumonia when he was admitted to the medical college. “He was very critical when admitted to the medical college. We gave oxygen support and noninvasive ventilation to the patient. Within 48 hours, we administered antiviral cocktail of Hydroxy Chloroquine , lopinavir ,Retonavir, and Oseltamivir to the patient. The virus attacks the body multiple proteins and that’s why we used the multipronged therapy,” Dr Fathauddeen said. “These drugs help reduce the viral load. When viral load comes down the severity of illness should also come down. So, there is a chance of early recovery. Now, the corona treatment of the patient is over. We are focusing on the treatment of non-corona diseases he suffers from,” he said.It was after securing the nod from the state advisory board and Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) that the drugs have been administered on the patient. The permission of the British national also had to be secured. “He readily gave his consent after following the consent form prepared by the state health department and ICMR,” Dr Fathauddeen said.Then, a team of doctors comprising medical college principal Dr Thomas Mathew, Dr Fathahuddeen, nodal officer, Covid treatment, Government Medical College, Ernakulam, Dr Geetha Nair, deputy superintendent and Dr Ganesh Mohan , RMO, held an urgent meeting and revised the treatment protocol.