USEFULNESS of Topic Ivermectin and Carrageenan to Prevent Contagion of Covid 19 (Argentina, 2020-06-12 ClinicalTrials.gov)

[-] TrumpLyftAlles | 1 points | Jun 12 2020 20:19:28

This trial is sponsored by Eurnekian Public Hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

I found this study difficult to understand. Help me out.

This is a prospective cohort study with N=70, expected to be completed by 2020-08-30.

Google says: A cohort study is a particular form of longitudinal study that samples a cohort (a group of people who share a defining characteristic, typically those who experienced a common event in a selected period, such as birth or graduation), performing a cross-section at intervals through time.

So I interpret "prospective cohort study" as "we are going to pick 70 people for the study". What else? You tell me.

#Brief Summary: Estimation of the prevalence and contagiousness of undocumented novel coronavirus infections is critical for understanding the overall prevalence and pandemic potential of this disease.

It is estimated that 86% of all infections were undocumented [95% credible interval (CI): 82-90%] before the 23 January 2020 travel restrictions. The transmission rate of undocumented infections per person was 55% the transmission rate of documented infections (95% CI: 46-62%), yet, because of their greater numbers, undocumented infections were the source of 79% of the documented cases.

I read that as "Most of the infections in Argentina were from people who traveled there before the 2020-01-23 travel restrictions were put in place" -- which doesn't seem credible. Wasn't there very little covid19 at that stage? The US didn't close travel from China until February 2, and banned travel from the Schengen region of Europe on 2020-03-12.

WorldoMeters.com says there weren't any COVID-19 cases that early. The researchers may have better information?

Using topic Ivermectin + Carrageenan, and taking advantage of their virucidal effects, we aim at reducing the contagion.

"Topic" should be "topical"

Official Title: USEFULNESS of Topic Ivermectin and Carrageenan to Prevent Contagion of Covid Among Healthy People and Health Personnel

The above is the best hint about what this study is about: preventing healthy people from catching the virus. Where those people come from isn't indicated.

Group/Cohort

IVER+ -- Adults, both genders, no age limit. They will be provided with topical medication, to be used 5 times a day. PPEs used as suggested by OMS.

Treatment:

Device: iota carrageenan
topical use on nasal mucosae
Other Name: Nasitral

Drug: Ivermectin
Topical use on oral mucosae
Other Name: Ivercass

I think my attempt at summarizing may be worse that the original.

Primary outcome measures: reduction in contagion (time frame 30 days)

For Health Personnel, this is a crucial point, since the average dessertion all over the world has raised to 27 % of personnel involved in first line assistance

Secondary outcome measures: Side-effects, allergies

Thoughts:

Apparently the carrageenan (commonly used as a food additive) will be used to create a gel containing salt solution (Nasitral) which will be snorted. Ivermectin drops will be taken orally.

"PPEs used as suggested by OMS."

Does that mean Professional Protection Equipment will be used as suggested by Overseeing Medical Staff? Just a guess.

My guess is that this study is hoping that snorting salt and ingesting ivermectin drops will prevent health care workers from catching covid19.

If you followed the Ivercass link above, you saw that a 20ml bottle costs about $19,000 Argentine dollars, which is about $275 US. From the study description, it's hard to know how many bottles will be needed to treat 35 (?) people, 5 times a day, for (?) 30 days.

I welcome your additions / corrections.