Chlorhexidine mouthwash reduces the salivary viral load of SARS‐CoV‐2: A randomized clinical trial
Denis Damião Costa, Carlos Brites, Sara Nunes Vaz, Daniele Souza De Santana, Jean Nunes Dos Santos, Patricia Ramos Cury
Oral Diseases, doi:10.1111/odi.14086
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate on the salivary load of SARS-CoV-2.
Materials and Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 100 participants positive for SARS-CoV-2. In the test group (n = 50), volunteers gargled with a mouthwash containing 15 ml of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate for 1 min, while the control group (n = 50) used a placebo. Saliva samples were obtained before (baseline) and 5 and 60 min after using the solutions. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (qRT-PCR) were carried out and the cycle threshold (Ct) was computed. The chi-square test and t-test were used for group comparison (p ≤ 0.05).
Results: The differences in Ct values between the 5-min evaluation and baseline (test group: 2.19 ± 4.30; control: -0.40 ± 3.87, p = 0.002) and between 60 min and baseline (test group: 2.45 ± 3.88; control: 0.76 ± 4.41, p = 0.05) were significantly greater in the test group, revealing a reduction of viral load. Furthermore, there was a reduction in the load of SARS-CoV-2 in 72% of the volunteers using chlorhexidine versus 30% in the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Chlorhexidine gluconate (0.12%) was effective in reducing salivary SARS-CoV-2 load for at least 60 min.
TA B L E 4 Association between SARS-CoV-2 salivary viral load reduction from baseline and demographic data, cigarette smoking, health status and COVID-19 symptoms (N = 100)
PATI E NT CO N S E NT S TATE M E NT Participants signed the consent form.
PE R M I SS I O N TO R E PRO D U CE M ATE R I A L FRO M OTH E R S O U RCE S There is no material from other sources.
CLI N I C A L TR I A L R EG I S TR ATI O N It was registered on clinicaltrial.gov.br on 03/17/2021, protocol UTN U1111-1264-8920.
PE E R R E V I E W The peer review history for this article is available at https://publo ns.com/publo n/10.1111/odi.14086.
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