Authors: Kembu Nakamoto, Hiroshi Hashiyada, Sadahiro Kawamoto, Toshiyuki Fujii.
Introduction: Electrolyzed saline (ES) is a non-toxic virucidal disinfectant. A treatment strategy for COVID-19 infections, in which initial decontamination was achieved by gargling ES, was retrospectively investigated.
Methodology: Thirty-eight COVID-19 patients were admitted between June 8, 2021, and September 30, 2021. Each patient gargled ES 3 times a day for as long as salivary SARS-CoV-2 antigen (Ag) tests produced positive results. Treatment effects were evaluated based on the salivary Ag level.
Results: Gargling ES solution was used to decontaminate the primary infection site in 33 patients (study group), whereas it was used at 7~10 days after admission in 5 patients (control). Thirty patients were <65 y.o., and 12 were female. Twenty-six exhibited pneumonias on CT. 13 patients were fully vaccinated, which reduced the risk of pneumonia (OR: 4.67, 95%CI: 1.08-20.22). Gargling ES significantly reduced the duration of the Ag-positive period and salivary Ag levels. An Ag-positive rate of 50% was achieved within 7 and 17 days in the study and control groups, respectively (p=0.0013). All pneumonia shadows faded away as the salivary Ag level reduced. All of the patients were released from quarantine within 20 days.
Conclusion: ES gargling rapidly reduced Ag levels and suppressed the progression of COVID-19.
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