Abstract
Background
Little research has been done on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for COVID-19. This study was done to determine if maoto, a traditional herbal medicine commonly used for diseases with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, can be repurposed for post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent the spread of nosocomial infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Methods
A cohort analysis was done of the data of 55 health care workers (HCWs) whether to get infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a Japanese hospital experiencing a COVID-19 cluster in April of 2021. Of these subjects, maoto granules for medical use were prescribed for PEP to 42 HCWs and taken for three days in mid-April. Controls were 13 HCWs who rejected the use of maoto. Polymerase chain reaction was performed routinely once or twice a week or when a participant presented with symptoms of COVID-19.
Result
There were no background differences between the maoto and control groups by profession, sex, or mean age. No severe adverse reactions were observed. During the observation period of 1 week, significantly fewer subjects were diagnosed with COVID-19 in the maoto group (N = 3, 7.1%) than in the control group (N = 6, 46.2%). The prophylactic effectiveness of maoto was 84.5%.
Conclusion
Oral administration of maoto is suggested to be effective as PEP against nosocomial COVID-19 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Post-exposure prophylaxis, Maoto, Traditional herbal medicine, 【초록키워드】 hospital, Infection, Sex, Symptom, Prophylactic, Prophylaxis, Spread, polymerase chain reaction, HCWs, Research, Effectiveness, Nosocomial infection, Control, Cluster, Health care worker, age, Japanese, disease, HCW, oral administration, control group, subject, observation period, symptoms of COVID-19, cohort analysis, nosocomial COVID-19, Prevent, effective, Result, significantly, was performed, determine, subjects, suggested, was done, diagnosed with COVID-19, Granule, infected with SARS-CoV-2, severe adverse reaction, 【제목키워드】 healthcare worker, Prophylaxis, Japanese, single center,