Saline nasal irrigation and gargling in COVID-19: Part II. Outcomes in Omicron and risk-benefit for self-care.

Background: The World Health Organization recommends at-home management of mild COVID-19. While our preliminary evaluation provided evidence for saline nasal irrigation (SNI) and gargling in COVID-19, an update and risk-benefit assessment for self-care in Omicron infection is warranted, from treatment and preparedness perspectives, as new SARS-CoV-2 variants continuously emerge, while symptoms overlap with those of common colds and other upper respiratory tract infections.

Methods: Systematic literature searches for preclinical and clinical studies involving Omicron infection and saline, bias assessment, and review of outcomes (benefits, risks).

Saline nasal irrigation and gargling in COVID-19: a multidisciplinary review of effects on viral load, mucosal dynamics, and patient outcomes.

With unrelenting SARS-CoV-2 variants, additional COVID-19 mitigation strategies are needed. Oral and nasal saline irrigation (SI) is a traditional approach for respiratory infections/diseases. As a multidisciplinary network with expertise/experience with saline, we conducted a narrative review to examine mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes associated with nasal SI, gargling, spray, or nebulization in COVID-19.

Reply to Davison, G. Comment on "Huijghebaert et al. Does Trypsin Oral Spray (Viruprotect/ColdZyme) Protect against COVID-19 and Common Colds or Induce Mutation? Caveats in Medical Device Regulations in the European Union. 2021, , 5066".

We have read the comment from Davison with great interest [...

Does Trypsin Oral Spray (Viruprotect/ColdZyme) Protect against COVID-19 and Common Colds or Induce Mutation? Caveats in Medical Device Regulations in the European Union.

Background: nasal or oral sprays are often marketed as medical devices (MDs) in the European Union to prevent common cold (CC), with ColdZyme/Viruprotect (trypsin/glycerol) mouth spray claiming to prevent colds and the COVID-19 virus from infecting host cells and to shorten/reduce CC symptoms as an example. We analyzed the published (pre)-clinical evidence.

Methods: preclinical: comparison of in vitro tests with validated host cell models to determine viral infectivity.