Summary of COVID-19 chlorhexidine studies
Hide extended summaries
RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jing
173 patient chlorhexidine late treatment RCT: 85% improved viral clearance (p<0.0001).
RCT 294 hospitalized patients in the USA, showing faster oropharyngeal viral clearance with chlorhexidine. Results were better with a combination of oropharyngeal rinse and posterior oropharyngeal spray compared with the rinse alone.
Apr 2021, J. Medical Virology, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jmv.26954, https://c19p.org/huang8
RCT 116 healthcare workers comparing 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash (n=36), 7.5% sodium bicarbonate mouthwash (n=40), and placebo (n=40) twice daily for 2 weeks, with symptoms followed for 4 weeks. There were lower symtoms and cases in both treatment groups, with statistical significance for chlorhexidine only. The treatments were stopped after two weeks, results may be better with continued use, more frequent use, and with the addition of nasal use.
Jan 2024, Iranian J. Nursing and Midwifery Research, https://journals.lww.com/jnmr/fulltext/2024/29010/a_comparison_of_the_effects_of_chlorhexidine_and.8.aspx, https://c19p.org/karami
1. Jing et al., Effective early strategy to prevent olfactory and gustatory dysfunction in COVID-19: a randomized controlled trial
260 patient chlorhexidine early treatment RCT: 79% lower progression (p<0.0001) and 97% lower severe cases (p<0.0001).RCT 379 mild COVID-19 cases showing significantly lower prevalence and severity of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction with budesonide nasal spray, chlorhexidine mouthwash, and saline nasal irrigation. The control group received no intervention, the saline group received saline nasal irrigation plus saline nasal spray and mouthwash, and the drug group received saline nasal irrigation plus budesonide nasal spray and chlorhexidine mouthwash. Saline nasal irrigation plus nasal spray and mouthwash were administered once and four times daily, respectively. Both treatment groups had significantly lower prevalence and severity olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. Prevalence was lower for the drug vs. saline group, without statistical significance.
Nov 2023, QJM: An Int. J. Medicine, https://academic.oup.com/qjmed/advance-article/doi/10.1093/qjmed/hcad262/7439598, https://c19p.org/jing
173 patient chlorhexidine late treatment RCT: 85% improved viral clearance (p<0.0001).
RCT 294 hospitalized patients in the USA, showing faster oropharyngeal viral clearance with chlorhexidine. Results were better with a combination of oropharyngeal rinse and posterior oropharyngeal spray compared with the rinse alone.
Apr 2021, J. Medical Virology, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full-xml/10.1002/jmv.26954, https://c19p.org/huang8
3. Karami et al., A Comparison of the Effects of Chlorhexidine and Sodium Bicarbonate Mouthwashes on COVID-19–Related Symptoms
76 patient chlorhexidine prophylaxis RCT: 61% lower progression (p=0.04) and 57% fewer cases (p=0.03).RCT 116 healthcare workers comparing 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash (n=36), 7.5% sodium bicarbonate mouthwash (n=40), and placebo (n=40) twice daily for 2 weeks, with symptoms followed for 4 weeks. There were lower symtoms and cases in both treatment groups, with statistical significance for chlorhexidine only. The treatments were stopped after two weeks, results may be better with continued use, more frequent use, and with the addition of nasal use.
Jan 2024, Iranian J. Nursing and Midwifery Research, https://journals.lww.com/jnmr/fulltext/2024/29010/a_comparison_of_the_effects_of_chlorhexidine_and.8.aspx, https://c19p.org/karami
Please send us corrections, updates, or comments.
c19early involves the extraction of 100,000+ datapoints from
thousands of papers. Community updates
help ensure high accuracy.
Treatments and other interventions are complementary.
All practical, effective, and safe
means should be used based on risk/benefit analysis.
No treatment or intervention is 100% available and effective for all current
and future variants.
We do not provide medical advice. Before taking any medication,
consult a qualified physician who can provide personalized advice and details
of risks and benefits based on your medical history and situation. IMA and WCH
provide treatment protocols.
Thanks for your feedback! Please search before submitting papers and note
that studies are listed under the date they were first available, which may be
the date of an earlier preprint.