• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Infectious Disease

Hydroxychloroquine may not prevent Covid-19 after contact exposure

byHarsh ShahandDeepti Shroff Karhade
January 17, 2021
in Infectious Disease, Public Health
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. Postexposure hydroxychloroquine therapy did not prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infection in exposed healthy individuals.

2. Hydroxychloroquine treatment after exposure to a positive case patient was shown not to reduce severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection incidence in exposed individuals.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: As coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) continues to cause a public health crisis, a multitude of measures are being pursued to mitigate the outbreak. Along with hand hygiene, face mask, social distancing, and quarantining to slow disease spread, postexposure prophylactic treatment of health individuals is a potential method to control the outbreak. Currently, no therapy is established to be effective in prophylactically preventing Covid-19; however, two aminoquinolines – hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine – are potential treatments. Both therapies have shown antiviral activity through in vitro experimentation. As such, this study investigated the efficacy and safety of hydroxychloroquine in preventing secondary polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 in exposed individuals. The study determined postexposure hydroxychloroquine treatment was not able to prevent symptomatic Covid-19 infections. The randomized control trial was limited by the trial design. The signing of informed consent occurred after randomization, after which, assignments were revealed to the participants. Though participation or lack thereof was not attributed to this method, the use of cluster randomization may have biased study enrollment. Nonetheless, this study’s results are significant, and its findings highlight the ineffectiveness of a treatment potentially used to reduce Covid-19 infection development.

Click to read the study in NEJM

Relevant Reading: A randomized trial of hydroxychloroquine as postexposure prophylaxis for Covid-19

In-Depth [ randomized controlled trial]: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 2,314 participants from three of nine health administrative regions in Catalonia, Spain. Participants included in the study were ≥ 18 years of age, asymptomatic, and had a recent close-contact Covid-19 exposure to a PCR-confirmed case patient. Participants who had Covid-19-like symptoms during the two weeks before enrollment were excluded from this study. The participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive hydroxychloroquine or usual care, respectively. The primary outcome was the onset of a PCR-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 episode. The participants were followed for 14 days. During the follow-up period, 64 of the 1,116 contacts (5.7%) in the hydroxychloroquine group and 74 of 1,198 contacts (6.2%) in the usual care group had a PCR-confirmed, symptomatic Covid-19 episode (risk ratio, 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.52 to 1.42). Additionally, median Covid-19 onset from exposure was 8.0 days in both groups (hazard ratio, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.6 to 1.6). From the initial negative result of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, there was no significant difference in participants having a positive-PCR result during the study in the hydroxychloroquine group (179 of 958, 18.7%) and the usual care group (185 of 1,042; 17.8%) (risk ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.77 to 1.38). Finally, the most frequent adverse events related to hydroxychloroquine treatment were gastrointestinal, such as diarrhea and nausea, and nervous system, such as drowsiness and headache. Five adverse events of self-limited heart palpitation were reported, which may be attributed to hydroxychloroquine use. Taken together, postexposure hydroxychloroquine therapy was shown not to prevent symptomatic Covid-19 infection or reduce the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RELATED REPORTS

Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir reduce COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients

Past infection with pre-omicron variants of COVID-19 protects against re-infection

Mycobacterium abscessus infections after cardiac surgery linked to hospital water system

Image: PD

©2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: Coronavirushydroxychloroquinepublic health
Previous Post

Convalescent plasma may not improve outcomes in Covid-19 patients

Next Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind January 18, 2021

RelatedReports

SARS-CoV-2 detected on various surroundings of asymptomatic COVID-19 positive infant
Infectious Disease

Molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir reduce COVID-19 mortality in hospitalized patients

March 29, 2023
Decreased expression of nasal ACE2 may be correlated with lower prevalence of COVID-19 in children
Chronic Disease

Past infection with pre-omicron variants of COVID-19 protects against re-infection

March 28, 2023
Standardized central line care practices reduce bloodstream infections
Infectious Disease

Mycobacterium abscessus infections after cardiac surgery linked to hospital water system

March 23, 2023
Decreased expression of nasal ACE2 may be correlated with lower prevalence of COVID-19 in children
Chronic Disease

Symptom and viral relapse more common in COVID-19 patients without antiviral treatment

March 21, 2023
Next Post

2 Minute Medicine Rewind January 18, 2021

Isolated mild/moderate thrombocytopenia may not require intervention

High fasting insulin levels in children associated with higher rates of psychosis and psychotic disorder later in life

#VisualAbstract: Every-other-day dosing of oral rimegepant is effective for preventive treatment of migraines

#VisualAbstract: Every-other-day dosing of oral rimegepant is effective for preventive treatment of migraines

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • SAR-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy may lead to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in male offspring
  • Hyperfractionated radiotherapy reduces complication rates compared to standard fractionation for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma
  • Lebrikizumab effective in treating moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options