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Short‐term inhibition of SARS‐CoV‐2 by hydrogen peroxide in persistent nasopharyngeal carriers
Author(s) -
Capetti Amedeo F.,
Borgonovo Fabio,
Morena Valentina,
Lupo Angelica,
Cossu Maria Vittoria,
Passerini Matteo,
Dedivitiis Gianfranco,
Rizzardini Giuliano
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.26485
Subject(s) - asymptomatic , medicine , viral shedding , tolerability , covid-19 , asymptomatic carrier , pandemic , coronavirus , virology , quarantine , infectious dose , respiratory system , incubation period , virus , incubation , disease , chemistry , infectious disease (medical specialty) , adverse effect , pathology , biochemistry
Asymptomatic and convalescent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) subjects may carry severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) for months in their upper respiratory ways. Desiring to permanently clean the mucosal surfaces, we investigated the chemical agents that fit to rapidly degrade the virus. Among these, hydrogen peroxide, initially tested by two of us for tolerability, showed both good performance and acceptable side effects (burning sensation for 15–20 s). We contacted circles of family physicians and the ATS Milano (Territorial Assistance and Prevention Service), and we tested this procedure on eight persistent carriers of SARS‐CoV‐2, performing swabs before the procedure and after it until the reappearance of the virus or until 14 days (the incubation period), keeping the surfaces clean with a hypertonic solution. Our patients had a median time from exposure or symptom onset of 111 days, and three had relapsed after being declared “cured” (two consecutive negative swabs after quarantine). One patient had a baseline negative swab and was excluded, and two successfully ended the 14 days' course, four suppressed viral elimination for 72 h, and one for 48 h, all rebounding to weak positive (cycle thresholds above 24). Although temporarily effective, such measures may have some place in the control of viral shedding to protect the most fragile subjects.