S’pore Study Finds Antiseptic Throat Sprays Can Lower Risk Of Covid-19 Infection In High-Exposure Places

Antiseptic Throat Sprays Reduce Risk Of Covid-19 Spread By 24%

When the pandemic arrived on our shores, dormitories where migrant workers live in crammed conditions became high-risk places for the spread of Covid-19.

Last May, a clinical trial was conducted at Tuas South dormitory to see if antiseptic throat sprays and anti malaria drug hydroxychloroquine can help reduce the spread in such high-transmission settings.

Source

On Sunday (25 Apr), the team of researchers announced that such antiseptic throat sprays and oral tablets do indeed help to lower the spread of Covid-19.

We summarise the findings of their latest breakthrough below.

Throat sprays & hydroxychloroquine reduce risk of Covid-19 spread

The study was carried out by a team of National University Health System (NUHS) researchers and led by Associate Professor Dr Raymond Seet.

Other members in the team included Professor Paul Tambyah, Associate Professor Alex Cook, Dr Amy Quek, and Associate Professor Mikael Hartman.

They found that taking povidone-iodine throat spray 3 times a day, or oral hydroxychloroquine tablets once a day, reduced the likelihood of Covid-19 spread by around 20%.

Source

According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), this is the first study that showed the benefits of these pharmaceutical products in the context of quarantined individuals living in high-exposure settings.

 

Both these drugs can be easily acquired.

The throat spray can be bought at pharmacies but hydroxychloroquine tablets would require a doctor’s prescription.

42-day trial conducted at Tuas dorm

The report, published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, stated that the clinical trial included 3,037 healthy men between 21 and 60 years old at Tuas South Dormitory.

Source

All participants did not have respiratory diseases or any Covid-19 symptoms. Those who previously tested positive for Covid-19 were also not included.

Each participant was then given a 42-day supply of the throat spray or oral hydroxychoroquine tablets. Other drugs like Vitamin C and zinc, and ivermectin were also tested.

One group of participants was also given Vitamin C as a control.

The trial was conducted when Covid-19 clusters were rampant in dormitories, reported The Straits Times (ST).

Throat spray reduces risk by 24%

After 42 days, more than half the participants had contracted Covid-19.

However, among these:

  • 46% of participants who used the throat spray were infected
  • 49% of those who had taken the hydroxychoroquine tablets tested positive
  • 70% of workers who took Vitamin C were infected

Thus, the researchers concluded that the throat spray reduced infection risk by about 24%.

Similarly, the oral hydroxychloroquine reduced the risk by about 21%.

According to CNA, these results are significant as such intervention methods are simple, effective and have minimal side effects.

Besides dormitories, they can be very useful in other high-risk settings like cruise ships, prisons, and nursing homes.

Useful during outbreaks in high-risk settings

The researchers emphasised that these drugs are not recommended for the general community in lower-risk settings.

But in high-risk settings, it is something that should be considered, should there be another outbreak.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at hello@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Lazada and Facebook.

Sabrina Seng

Sabrina is always facing some form of existential crisis but other than that, she's pretty chill.

Recent Posts

4 winners split S$13M TOTO jackpot on 14 Nov, 1 winning ticket bought from Tong Aik Huat again

Tong Aik Huat also sold a winning ticket for the 21 Oct draw.

15 Nov 2024, 1:39 am

Online model seller in Japan scammed by buyer who returned different kit with pieces cut out

The seller was soured by the experience with Mercari, saying the platform only provided compensation…

14 Nov 2024, 6:57 pm

Woman in Indonesia steals formula milk by placing them between thighs

The woman walked away naturally despite the boxes between her thighs.

14 Nov 2024, 6:20 pm

Leopard in Thailand caught wriggling on zoo visitor’s pickup truck, netizens joke driver should bring it home

The leopard reportedly jumped off the truck once it saw zoo staff approaching.

14 Nov 2024, 5:53 pm

Motorist in M’sia crushed to death after container falls from trailer, lorry driver arrested

The trailer driver made a V sign for the media while being escorted to the…

14 Nov 2024, 5:42 pm