Essential workers in positions with increased likelihood of exposure to SARS-CoC-2 will be most impacted by the proposed project. Evidence has shown that the SARS-CoV-2 novel coronavirus is easily transmissable through close contact between individuals, especially during aerosol-generating procedures such as intubation of patients. The intervention proposed in this study (nasal and oral decontamination with povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine, respectively) presents an opportunity for a safe, effective, and feasible treatment to decontaminate the primary entry points for SARS-CoV-2. As such, the intervention to be studied in this project may protect healthcare and other essential workers by preventing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from patients to healthcare workers, as well as the general public to essential worker,. and thus reducing the incidence of COVID-19 in these workers.
Drug: 10% Povidone-iodine nasal decolonization swab plus 0.12% CHG oral rinse
2 swab sticks of 10% povidone-iodine in each nares and 0.12% CHG oral rinse
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participant is a essential worker performing at least some in-person job duties (not
100% remote)
- Participant is willing and able to perform intervention and data collection
procedures.
- Participant is able to provide informed consent in English language.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis of COVID-19 within 2 months prior to enrollment, or active respiratory
illness symptoms at time of enrollment
- Known medical contraindication to chlorhexidine gluconate or povidone-iodine treatment
ingredients (such as a known allergy)
- Participant has a known medical and/or surgical reason prohibiting nasal swab
sampling.
- Participant is female who is pregnant, or believes she may be pregnant, at time of
enrollment.
- Participant is actively taking/using any treatments or interventions as part of any
other COVID-19 related investigational trials.
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin, United States