NCT04370015

Hydroxychloroquine Chemoprophylaxis for COVID-19 Infection in High-risk Healthcare Workers.

Efficacy and Safety of Hydroxychloroquine in Primary Prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Healthcare Workers at Risk of Exposure: Randomised Control Trial

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 374 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Pakistan · Other Government
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 60 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Healthcare personnel are at an increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection while handling such patients. Currently, there is no treatment available for SARS-CoV-2 and stringent preventive measures are advised to avoid or minimize risk of exposure to healthcare workers. There are in vitro studies available which show inhibition of corona virus by hydroxychloroquine, a widely-used agent against malaria and certain autoimmune conditions and of low-cost and limited toxicity. However, evidence regarding its effects in patients is limited. We plan to conduct a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the safety and potential prophylactic efficacy of hydroxychloroquine in preventing secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers at high-risk of exposure while managing such patients.

Detailed description

An interventional randomised control trial that will include 374 participants who will be healthcare workers at variable risks of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 while managing patients both suspected and confirmed with COVID-19 infection.Each participant will undergo detailed clinical evaluation to confirm eligibility, complete blood count, retinal imaging and ECG rhythm lead at baseline. A nasopharyngeal swab for reverse-transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) will also be taken. The enrolled participants will be randomised to two treatment arms with the experimental arm receiving Tab.Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) 400mg twice a day on day 1 followed by 400mg weekly for 11 weeks. The placebo comparator arm will receive 2 tablets twice daily on day 1 followed by 2 tablets weekly for 11 weeks. The participants will be followed up via phone call weekly to ensure drug compliance, occurrence of drug-related side effects or respiratory symptoms. The final visit 4 will mark the end of study at 12 weeks from randomisation when a repeat nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR will be taken.The primary outcome measures will be prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection as determined by a negative RT-PCR in the experimental arm at the end of 12 weeks and HCQ safety as determined by occurrence of adverse events.

Conditions

• SARS-CoV-2
• Healthcare Workers

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Hydroxychloroquine	Health care workers at high risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 randomized to this arm will be treated with oral hydroxychloroquine 400 mg twice a day (four 200 mg tablets) on day 1 followed by 400mg (two 200 mg tablets) once a week for 11 weeks.
DRUG	Placebo oral tablet	• Health care workers at high risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 randomized to this arm will be treated with placebo twice a day (four tablets) on day 1 followed by 2 tablets once a week for 11weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2020-05-15
• Primary completion: 2020-06-30
• Completion: 2020-10-15
• First posted: 2020-04-30
• Last updated: 2020-05-06