Thermal inactivation of SARS COVID-2 virus: Are steam inhalations a potential treatment?

Marca, Giancarlo la; Barp, Jacopo; Frenos, Stefano; Mugelli, Alessandro; Galli, Luisa; Calistri, Elisa; Biasucci, Giacomo; Masi, Salvatore; Guerrini, Renzo

doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118801

Cited by 22 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Behavioral factors might explain the preventative effect of active smoking in HCWs, including the requirement to smoke outside the hospital that may have avoided high-risk exposures to colleagues in designated break areas and lunchrooms. However, direct antiviral effects related to smoking have also been reported [ 35 , 36 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers

Wratil

Schmacke²,

Osterman³

et al. 2021

Infection

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Purpose To determine risk factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers (HCWs), characterize symptoms, and evaluate preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals. Methods In a cross-sectional study conducted between May 27 and August 12, 2020, after the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we obtained serological, epidemiological, occupational as well as COVID-19-related data at a quaternary care, multicenter hospital in Munich, Germany. Results 7554 HCWs participated, 2.2% of whom tested positive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. Multivariate analysis revealed increased COVID-19 risk for nurses (3.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 2.5–3.9%, p = 0.012), staff working on COVID-19 units (4.6% seropositivity, 95% CI 3.2–6.5%, p = 0.032), males (2.4% seropositivity, 95% CI 1.8–3.2%, p = 0.019), and HCWs reporting high-risk exposures to infected patients (5.5% seropositivity, 95% CI 4.0–7.5%, p = 0.0022) or outside of work (12.0% seropositivity, 95% CI 8.0–17.4%, p < 0.0001). Smoking was a protective factor (1.1% seropositivity, 95% CI 0.7–1.8% p = 0.00018) and the symptom taste disorder was strongly associated with COVID-19 (29.8% seropositivity, 95% CI 24.3–35.8%, p < 0.0001). An unbiased decision tree identified subgroups with different risk profiles. Working from home as a preventive measure did not protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection. A PCR-testing strategy focused on symptoms and high-risk exposures detected all larger COVID-19 outbreaks. Conclusion Awareness of the identified COVID-19 risk factors and successful surveillance strategies are key to protecting HCWs against SARS-CoV-2, especially in settings with limited vaccination capacities or reduced vaccine efficacy.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers

Wratil

Schmacke²,

Osterman³

et al. 2021

Infection

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Notably, they have also reported that they initially preferred to inhale, once or twice daily for two days, boiled cloves' water vapor to relieve their cough, and when it was not bothersome, they stopped the steam inhalation sessions. Interestingly, a preliminary observation that arose from a small study suggested that cycles of steam inhalation at temperature 55-65 °C might be beneficial in halting SARS-CoV-2 virus infection during its initial stage and possibly preventing further spread [14], and other researchers demonstrated that SARS CoV-2 derived from various sources is thermally inactivated and re-purposing of domestic steam disinfectors was suggested [15]. We suggest that their recommendation is totally harmless and might be at least as beneficial as that of zinc and vitamins supplements.…”

Section: Case 11 and 12mentioning

confidence: 99%

NSAIDs/Nitazoxanide/Azithromycin Immunomodulatory Protocol Used in Adults, Children and Pregnant COVID-19 Patients: An Egyptian Prospective Observational Study.

Kelleni¹

2021

Preprint

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To date no treatment protocol of proven efficacy was approved to manage COVID-19. We have developed a novel COVID-19 protocol basing on our early pioneering article that justified repurposing of nitazoxanide/azithromycin combination for early cases of COVID-19 which was followed by two articles to justify addition of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to nitazoxanide/azithromycin. We are presenting a prospective telemedicine case series involving consented 32 patients/legal guardians including 10 confirmed by PCR and 21 highly suspected COVID-19 Egyptian patients. The patients included 15 adult males, 11 adult females, 2 pregnant patients as well as 4 children. All patients have received a short 5-day-regimen of NSAIDs (diclofenac potassium in most of cases, ibuprofen, lornoxicam, celecoxib, ketoprofen or ketorolac)/nitazoxanide/azithromycin +/- cefoperazone either in full or in part as illustrated in the manuscript. The primary endpoint of this protocol was full relief of all serious COVID-19 clinical manifestations. The primary endpoint was fully achieved in all patients within two weeks. Most of the patients treated early with the protocol have fully recovered during its described five days; the leucocytic/lymphocytic count was significantly improved for those with prior leucopenia/lymphopenia. No significant adverse effects were reported. A novel 5-day-protocol to safely and effectively cure COVID-19 using repurposed inexpensive FDA approved drugs is illustrated and we recommend performing sufficiently powered double blind randomized clinical trials against any current standard protocol.

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“…Throughout the preparation of this review paper, trials using steam inhalation for thermal inactivation of SARS COVID-2 virus are being conducted and providing encouraging results (la Marca et al, 2021).…”

Section: Increased Extracellular Temperature May Disadvantage Virus Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another study, inhaled HS was delivered to people with CF to promote mucus clearance via an increased ionic strength (Alaiwa et al, 2016). Ongoing research using steam inhalation therapy with the addition of natural products against COVID-19 are also being published (Chakraborty & Daniel, 2020;la Marca et al, 2021;Shanmugaraj et al, 2021).…”

Section: Increased External Humidity and Osmolarity May Disadvantage Virus Infectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways

Cicconetti

Sestili

Madiai

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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The COVID-19 pandemic and its virus variants continue to pose a serious and long-lasting threat worldwide. To combat the pandemic, the world’s largest COVID-19 vaccination campaign is currently ongoing. As of July 19th 2021, 26.2% of the world population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (1.04 billion), and one billion has been fully vaccinated, with very high vaccination rates in countries like Israel, Malta, and the UEA. Conversely, only 1% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose with examples of vaccination frequency as low as 0.07% in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is thus of paramount importance that more research on alternate methods to counter cell infection and propagation is undertaken that could be implemented in low-income countries. Moreover, an adjunctive therapeutic intervention would help to avoid disease exacerbation in high-rate vaccinated countries too. Based on experimental biochemical evidence on viral cell fusion and propagation, herein we identify (i) extracellular pH (epH), (ii) temperature, and (iii) humidity and osmolarity as critical factors. These factors are here in discussed along with their implications on mucus thick layer, proteases, abundance of sialic acid, vascular permeability and exudate/edema. Heated, humidified air containing sodium bicarbonate has long been used in the treatment of certain diseases, and here we argue that warm inhalation of sodium bicarbonate might successfully target these endpoints. Although we highlight the molecular/cellular basis and the signalling pathways to support this intervention, we underscore the need for clinical investigations to encourage further research and clinical trials. In addition, we think that such an approach is also important in light of the high mutation rate of this virus originating from a rapid increase.

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Thermal inactivation of SARS COVID-2 virus: Are steam inhalations a potential treatment?

Cited by 22 publications

References 5 publications

In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers

In-depth profiling of COVID-19 risk factors and preventive measures in healthcare workers

NSAIDs/Nitazoxanide/Azithromycin Immunomodulatory Protocol Used in Adults, Children and Pregnant COVID-19 Patients: An Egyptian Prospective Observational Study.

Extracellular pH, osmolarity, temperature and humidity could discourage SARS-CoV-2 cell docking and propagation via intercellular signaling pathways

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