Can PVP-I nasal-oral spray prevent high risk contacts from COVID-19 infection?

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate effectiveness of 0.6% povidone iodine (PVP-I, PI) nasal-oral spray in the prevention of infection in high risk contacts (HRC) of COVID-19 case. It was conducted as a retrospective cohort study during October - November 2021. Purposive sampling was done in hospitals where the RT-PCR test could be performed. The calculated sample size was 131. There were 46 persons in the exposed HRCs, and one was found infected with COVID-19. The non-exposed HRCs were 86 persons and 25 cases of COVID-19 were detected. The exposed HRCs had lower chance of COVID-19 infection than the non-exposed HRCs (crude RR=0.07, 95%CI=0.01-0.53). Multivariable analysis was performed for confounding control; and the adjusted RR of PVP-I spray exposed HRC was found to be 0.07, 95%CI=0.01-0.51; and the adjusted RR of at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine exposed HRC was 0.43, 95%CI=0.22-0.83. The prevented fraction among the PVP-I spray exposed HRC was 92.68 percent, 95%CI=48.51-98.96; whereas the prevented fraction among the at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccine exposed HRC was 56.89 percent, 95%CI=16.62-77.71. Thus, the effectiveness of 0.6% PVP-I in preventing COVID-19 infection among the HRCs was as high as 92.68 percent. For effective prevention, we suggested to use several additional measures to prevent COVID-19 such as masking, washing with 70% alcohol, social distancing and COVID-19 vaccination.