einstein (São Paulo). 21/Dec/2021;19:eCE6999.
Elimination of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharynx and oropharynx after use of an adjuvant gargling and rinsing protocol with an antiseptic mouthwash
Fabiano Vieira Vilhena
, Bernardo da Fonseca Orcina
, Lúcio Lemos
, Jeanette Cecília Fournier Less
, Isabella Pinto
, Paulo Sérgio da Silva Santos
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2021CE6999
Dear Editor,
It has been well established in science that the mouth is an entry and site of replication of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes the coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19). Hence, oral health care and use of broad-spectrum antimicrobial products become relevant.() Recently the use of phthalocyanine derivative mouthwash (PDM), has been investigated, demonstrating in vitro activity in reduction of viral load of SARS-CoV-2, in addition to clinical improvement and less severe disease, with no reports of adverse effects in COVID-19 patients.(,)The present study addressed the effect of PDM use in reducing the viral load of the novel coronavirus in a series of cases comprising four adult patients, who work together and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between June 16 and 21, 2021. The ethical precepts were complied with, and the study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (opinion number: 4,273,068, CAAE: 36493520.1.0000.5417). All patients presented negative routine tests in the previous week. Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 and monitoring of viral load were made by real-time polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcriptase (RT-PCR), using fluorescent probes (Taqman) (Thermo Fischer Scientific). Nucleic acids were extracted from 100μL of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swab, using the virus RNA + DNA Preparation Kit, as per the manufacturer´s instructions (Cellco, São Carlos, SP, Brazil). The purified nucleic acid was reversely transcript into cDNA, and amplified using the kit TaqPath™ COVID-19 CE IVD RT PCR (European Commission – in vivo Diagnostics Real Time – Polymerase Chain Reaction) (Applied BiosystemsTM), in equipment 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR Systems (Applied BiosystemsTM). The technique employed was the cycle threshold (CT) of each sample, which corresponds to the number of cycles of PCR required to identify the virus. The kit used assessed markers for SARS-CoV-2 with sensibility greater than 99%, and specificity of 100%, with detection limit of 2 copies/mL. The RT-PCR was considered positive when two or more genes assessed (ORF1ab, N and S) presented CT <37. The mutations on gene S of the virus were also investigated, and could be one of the following originating from the original strains: P1 (Manaus), P2 (Brazil), B1.1.7 (British) and B1.351 (South African) (CDC-EUA).()
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