Further observations on hydrogen peroxide antisepsis and COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers and inpatients

The use of prophylactic antisepsis to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been suggested. This study investigated hydrogen peroxide antisepsis (HPA) at two hospitals in Ghana. Cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) using hydrogen peroxide (HP-HCWs) or not using hydroge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2022-08, Vol.126, p.103-108
Main Authors: Amoah, A.G.B., Sagoe, K.W., Quakyi, I.A., Ayettey Anie, H.N.G., Ayettey-Adamafio, M.N.B., Ayettey Brew, R.N.A., Newman-Nartey, M., Nartey, N.O., Brightson, K.T.C., Kessie, G., Ayettey, A.S., Konotey-Ahulu, F.I.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antisepsis
COVID-19
Healthcare workers
Hydrogen peroxide
Mouthwash
Nasal rinse
Nasopharyngeal
Oropharyngeal
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Summary:The use of prophylactic antisepsis to protect against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been suggested. This study investigated hydrogen peroxide antisepsis (HPA) at two hospitals in Ghana. Cases of COVID-19 among healthcare workers (HCWs) using hydrogen peroxide (HP-HCWs) or not using hydrogen peroxide (NHP-HCWs), vaccinated or unvaccinated, were recorded at Shai-Osudoku Hospital (SODH), Dodowa, and Mount Olives Hospital (MOH), Techiman, between May 2020 and December 2021. The effect of HPA in all inpatients at MOH was also observed. Permutation tests were used to determine P values. At SODH, there were 62 (13.5%) cases of COVID-19 among 458 NHP-HCWs but no cases among eight HP-HCWs (P=0.622) from May to December 2020. Between January and March 2021, 10 (2.7%) of 372 NHP-HCWs had COVID-19, but there were no cases among 94 HP-HCWs (P=0.206). At MOH, prior to HPA, 17 (20.2%) of 84 HCWs and five (1.4%) of 370 inpatients had COVID-19 in July 2020. From August 2020 to March 2021, two of 54 (3.7%) HCWs who stopped HPA had COVID-19; none of 32 NHP-HCWs contracted COVID-19. At SODH, none of 23 unvaccinated HP-HCWs and 35 (64%) of 55 unvaccinated NHP-HCWs had COVID-19 from April to December 2021 (P
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1016/j.jhin.2022.05.007