SHIELD Study: Using Naso-oropharyngeal Antiseptic Decolonization to Reduce COVID-19 Viral Shedding

Role of NaSo-oropHaryngeal Antiseptic dEcolonizaiton to Reduce Covid-19 Viral Shedding and Disease Transmission: SHIELD Study

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.

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.