Hydroxychloroquine as pre-exposure prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection among healthcare workers: a prospective cohort study.
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther
; 20(5): 781-787, 2022 05.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1555988
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Hydroxychloroquine had attracted significant attention in the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic but current recommendations do not support its use. However, the evidence against its use as pre-exposure prophylaxis have been of low to moderate quality and have been limited by high risk of bias.METHODS:
Following institutional ethics committee approval, healthcare workers (n = 1294) completing their first week-long COVID in-patient duty, subsequent institutional quarantine and RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 infection were included for this prospective cohort study. Demographic data, hydroxychloroquine usage and related adverse effects were captured through a 'Caring for the Caregivers' surveillance system. A chi-Square test of independence was used to determine the effect of hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis.RESULTS:
Among the 1294 participants (age 31 ± 7 years, 61% women), 273 (21.1%) healthcare workers used hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per Indian Council of Medical Research recommendations and 83/1294 (6.4%) tested positive after their duty. There was no significant difference in COVID-19 incidence between those on hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis and those not on it (5.9% vs 6.6%, χ2 = 0.177, p = 0.675; RR = 0.89, 95% CI - 0.53 to 1.52). There were no significant adverse effects to hydroxychloroquine usage.CONCLUSION:
This study demonstrated no benefit of hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis and provides quality evidence against its use in COVID-19 prevention.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis
/
COVID-19
/
COVID-19 Drug Treatment
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
14787210.2022.2015326
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