Reference:
Behera, P., Patro, B. K., Padhy, B. M., Mohapatra, P. R., Bal, S. K., Chandanshive, P. D., Mohanty, R. R., Ravikumar, S. R., Singh, A. K., Singh, S. R., Pentapati, S. S. K., Nair, J., & Batmanabane, G. (2023). Prophylactic role of ivermectin in SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers. All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-208785/v1
Summary:
This study investigates the prophylactic effect of oral ivermectin on SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar. Conducted as a prospective cohort study, it involved 3532 participants, of which 62.5% received two doses of ivermectin (300 μg/kg) 72 hours apart. Results indicated that those receiving ivermectin experienced an 83% reduction in COVID-19 infection risk within the month following administration, with a reported absolute risk reduction of 9.7%. The study also noted that females exhibited lower infection rates compared to males. Only 1.8% of participants reported mild, self-limiting adverse effects. The findings suggest that ivermectin can be a safe, effective, and low-cost strategy for preventing COVID-19 among HCWs, complementing other preventive measures, including vaccination. Further research is encouraged to assess the long-term efficacy and broader applicability of ivermectin in community settings.