The possible beneficial role of the regular use of potent mouthwash solutions in the treatment of COVID-19

1.In this work we tried to study the effect of the regular use of potent mouthwash in COVID19 cases, on the premise that it may speedup the recovery, through the repeated reduction of microbial load, of both, the 2019-nCOV and oral microbiota; thus slowing the disease progression and lowering the incidence of superinfections. Through a randomized controlled trial, a mixed solution of Hydrogen peroxide 2% and chlorhexidine gluconate, to be used for oral rinsing and gargling three times daily, was tested in cases admitted to COVID treatment facility, versus the standard (only) COVID19-treatment protocol, starting with 46 cases in each group, matched in terms of disease severity, of symptoms, and average cycle threshold value (CT-value) for the COVID PCR test on diagnosis. Our findings showed statistically significant improvement in terms of a higher conversion rate to "COVID19-negative PCR" by five days of treatment (6/46 Vs 0/46), improvement in "symptoms severity" after two days of treatment, and less intubation and mortality (0/46 Vs 3/46) with all P-value < 0.05. There was also a trend of improvement in other outcome variables, though with no statistically significant difference; namely "shorter hospital stays," "less progression in Oxygen requirements", "less rate of plasma transfusion", and better "gross extent of improvement". Our findings support a beneficial role in treating active cases (Disease) and anticipates better outcome should implemented earlier in course of the disease; thus, suggest a role in limiting the spread (Pandemic), as an additional preventive method. Additionally, we think the repeated reduction in the microbial load might have been sufficient to induce a strain in a possible viral-microbial interaction, resulting in slowing down of the disease progress.