Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to investigate intranasal lavage with a hypochlorous acid solution in the reduction of symptoms in the ambulatory COVID-19 patient.

Study design: Study was a prospective, open-label, therapeutic intervention versus standard-of-care to evaluate patient-assessed improvement of clinical signs and symptoms for COVID-19 infected subjects, and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Reading Hospital (IRB 036-20), with informed consent obtained from all adult participants(age>18 years).

Setting: All enrollees, taken from the same ambulatory testing facility, received nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing by Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain (RT-PCR) or the COVID-19 antigen specific test (Binax NOW, Abbott Lab)

Materials and Methods: Convenience sampling methodology was utilized. Each enrollee was provided with the study devices which included a Nasaflo Neti Pot (NeilMed Pharmaceutical, Inc.), and the hypochlorous acid solution (Vashe Wound Solution, Urgo Medical North America), Participants were instructed to irrigate each nostril with 120 cc (four ounces) of the solution for ten consecutive days, and record the presence or absence of symptoms in a scripted diary log. The study included 88 patients of which 74 (84.1%) completed the ten days of nasal lavage. All data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0.

Results: Chi square test of association found no significant difference related to gender, age group race, ethnicity, residence, or living arrangements (all p-values>0.05). A significant association (difference) was found for the recorded age variable reported and improved clinical condition, finding that 65.2% of the youngest through age 49 cohort reported improved clinical condition as compared to only 34.8% of those in the 50 through oldest years of age cohort (p=0.028). Only 25% of enrolled patients who did not elect to use nasal lavage reported improved clinical condition. There were no statistical differences in any of the co-morbid conditions. Mild adverse reactions included burning, epistaxis, and oral metallic taste. No enrollees required mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths.

Conclusion: This study suggests the feasibility and safety of using intranasal lavage with a hypochlorous acid solution in relieving symptoms in the ambulatory COVID-19 patient.

Keywords: Hypochlorous acid; Vashe wound solution; Intranasal lavage; COVID-19