Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Madison, WI, USA & The William S Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI 53726, USA

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Published Online:19 Jan 2021https://doi.org/10.2217/fmb-2020-0286

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Abstract

A review of nasal sprays and gargles with antiviral properties suggests that a number of commonly used antiseptics including povidone-iodine, Listerine^®, iota-carrageenan and chlorhexidine should be studied in clinical trials to mitigate both the progression and transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Several of these antiseptics have demonstrated the ability to cut the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 by 3–4 log₁₀ in 15–30 s in vitro. In addition, hypertonic saline targets viral replication by increasing hypochlorous acid inside the cell. A number of clinical trials are in process to study these interventions both for prevention of transmission, prophylaxis after exposure, and to diminish progression by reduction of viral load in the early stages of infection.

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Commonly used antiseptics including povidone-iodine, Listerine^®, iota-carrageenan and chlorhexidine should be studied in clinical trials to mitigate the progression and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

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Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest

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Vol. 16, No. 2

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History

Received 16 November 2020

Accepted 16 December 2020

Published online 19 January 2021

Published in print January 2021

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Author contributions

K Loomis, N Victoria and C Stathis were responsible for the initial literature acquisition and drafting of this work. K Loomis, N Safdar, S Nguyen, M Eggers and E Septimus assisted with data interpretation, subsequent literature acquisition and critical revisions. K Loomis was responsible for the original conception and design of this work.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

N Safdar has received grant funding from PDI healthcare for a separate research project. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

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Review of the use of nasal and oral antiseptics during a global pandemic

Abstract

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References