Intranasal lavage with hypochlorous acid safely reduces the symptoms in the ambulatory patient with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to investigate intranasal lavage with a hypochlorous acid solution in the reduction of symptoms in the ambulatory COVID-19 patient. STUDY DESIGNStudy approval granted by the Institutional Review Board of Reading Hospital (IRB 036-20), with informed consent obtained from all adult participants(age>18 years). SETTINGAll enrollees, taken from the same ambulatory testing facility, received nasopharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 testing by reverse transcription polymerase chain (RT-PCR) or the COVID-19 antigen specific test (Binax NOW, Abbott Lab) METHODSConvenience sampling methodology was utilized. Each enrollee was provided with the study devices which included a Nasaflo Neti Pot (NeilMed Pharmaceutical, Inc.), and the hypochlorous acid solution (Vashe Wound Solution, Urgo Medical North America, LLC). Participants were instructed to irrigate each nostril with 120 cc (four ounces) of the solution for ten consecutive days, and record the presence or absence of symptoms in a scripted diary log. RESULTSThe study included 88 patients of which 74 (84.1%) completed the ten days of nasal lavage. All data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0. Chi square test of association found no significant difference related to gender, age group race, ethnicity, residence, or living arrangements (all p-values > 0.05). There were no statistical differences in any of the co-morbid conditions. Mild adverse reactions included burning, epistaxis, and oral metallic taste. No enrollees required mechanical ventilation. There were no deaths. CONCLUSIONThis study suggests the feasibility and safety of using intranasal lavage with a hypochlorous acid solution in relieving symptoms in the ambulatory Covid-19 patient.