Efficacy of chlorin dioxide wipes in disinfecting airway devices contaminated with Covid-19.

Background: Reprocessing and disinfecting endoscopes is a routine practice in otolaryngology. An effective, safe, and rapid disinfection technique is essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To validate the efficacy of chlorine dioxide wipes in disinfecting three types of airway endoscopes contaminated with COVID-19-positive patient secretions. Methods: Chlorine dioxide wipes were tested on rigid nasal endoscopes, laryngoscope blades, and flexible bronchoscopes. The endoscopes were disinfected using the wipes after exposure to COVID-19-positive patients. The tested scope was included in the study if the post procedure pre disinfection swab was positive for COVID-19 virus using RT-PCR. We analyzed 38 samples for 19 subjects (scopes) pre and post disinfection with chlorine dioxide wipes from July 2021 to February 2022. Results: A total of four rigid endoscopes, four flexible bronchoscopes, and four laryngoscopes were included in the study which represent 24 pre and post disinfection swabs. The others were excluded because of negative pre disinfection swab. All the post disinfection PCR swab results were negative. Conclusion: Chlorine dioxide is a convenient, fast, and effective disinfection technique for COVID-19-contaminated airway endoscopes.

Recent updates in COVID-19 with emphasis on inhalation therapeutics: Nanostructured and targeting systems.

The current world health threat posed by the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) calls for the urgent development of effective therapeutic options. COVID-19 needs daunting routes such as nano-antivirals. Hence, the role of nanotechnology is very critical in combating this nano-enemy "virus." Although substantial resources are under ongoing attention for prevention and care, we would like to start sharing with readers our vision of the role of inhaled nanomaterials and targeting systems that can play an important role in the fight against the COVID-19. In this review, we underline the genomic structure of COVID-19, recent modes of virus transmission with measures to control the infection, pathogenesis, clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2, and how much the virus affects the lung. Additionally, the recent therapeutic approaches for managing COVID-19 with emphasis on the value of nanomaterial-based technical approaches are discussed in this review. This review also focuses on the safe and efficient delivery of useable targeted therapies using designed nanocarriers. Moreover, the effectiveness and availability of active targeting of certain specific receptors expressed on the coronavirus surfaces via tailored ligand nanoparticles are manipulated. It was also highlighted in this review the role of inhaled medicines including antivirals and repurposed drugs for fighting the associated lung disorders and efficiency of developed vaccines. Moreover, the inhalation delivery safety techniques were also highlighted.

Negative nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 PCR conversion in Response to different therapeutic interventions (preprint)

BACKGROUND: Despite lack of convincing evidence of the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, it has been suggested to be used for the treatment of SARS CoV 2 to accelerate the negative virus conversion. We aimed to explore the association between negative nasopharyngeal SARS CoV 2 PCR clearance and different therapeutic interventions. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective cohort study of 93 patients who were admitted to medical ward with a PCR confirmed diagnosis of COVID 19 and met the inclusion criteria in a tertiary hospital in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. There were three interventional subgroups (group A (n=45): who received antimalarial drug only classified as (A1), combined with azithromycin (A2) or combined with antiviral drugs (A3)), and one supportive care group (group B) (n=48). The primary and secondary endpoints of the study were achieving negative SARS_CoV_2 nasopharyngeal PCR sample within five days or less from the start of the intervention and 12 days or less from the diagnose, respectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 43.9 years (SD:15.9). A median time of 3.00 days (IQR:2.00 to 6.50) needed from the time of starting the intervention/supportive care to the first negative PCR sample. There was no statistically significant difference neither between the percentage of patients in the interventional group and the supportive care group who achieved the primary or the secondary endpoint, nor in the median time needed to achieve the first negative PCR sample (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Prescribing antimalarial medications was not shown to shorten the disease course nor to accelerate the negative PCR conversion rate.