Background At present, no agents are known to be effective at preventing COVID-19. Based on current knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease, we suggest that SARS-CoV-2 infection might be attenuated by directly maintaining innate pulmonary redox, metabolic and dilation functions using well-tolerated medications that are known to serve these functions, specifically, a low-dose aerosolized combination of glutathione, inosine and potassium. Methods From June 1 to July 10, 2020, we conducted a pilot, prospective, open-label, single-arm, single-center study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with aerosolized combination medication (ACM) on the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 positivity in 99 healthcare workers (HCWs) at a hospital designated for treating COVID-19 patients. We compared SARS-CoV-2 positivity in ACM users to retrospective data collected from 268 untreated HCWs at the same hospital. Eligible participants received an aerosolized combination of 21.3 mg/ml glutathione and 8.7 mg/ml inosine in 107 mM potassium solution for 14 days. The main outcome was the frequency of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, defined as individuals with positive genetic or immunological tests within 28 days of the study period. Results SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 2 ACM users (2, 95% CI: 0.3 to 7.1%), which was significantly less than the incidence in nonusers, at 24 (9, 95% CI: 5.8 to 13.0%; P = 0.02). During the PrEP period, solicited adverse events occurred in five participants; all were mild and transient reactions. Conclusions Our findings might be used either to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection or to support ongoing and new research into more effective treatments for COVID-19. Trial registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN34160010 . Registered 14 September 2020 – Retrospectively registered. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06241-1.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, PrEP, preexposure prophylaxis, 【초록키워드】 Efficacy, Pathogenesis, Open-label, knowledge, SARS-COV-2 infection, hospital, Genetic, outcome, healthcare worker, HCWs, low-dose, adverse event, Research, Mild, Potassium, incidence, medication, disease, function, Immunological test, retrospective, Combination, Frequency, Inosine, HCW, Support, Reactions, supplementary material, ISRCTN, individual, study period, SARS-CoV-2 positivity, Registered, participant, single-center study, functions, positive, laboratory-confirmed, treating COVID-19 patients, FIVE, Prevent, effective, single-arm, ACM, Result, defined, collected, evaluate, occurred, significantly, conducted, less, treatments for COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 SARS-COV-2 infection, risk, healthcare worker, pilot study,