Washing COVID-19 Away With a Hypertonic Seawater Nasal Irrigation Solution

Nasal irrigations are thought to reduce the amount of virus from the nasal cavity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of a hypertonic seawater solution containing algal and herbal natural ingredients (Sinomarin®) on the nasopharyngeal viral load in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. The investigators will conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled trial. Patients will be allocated in two groups, the hypertonic seawater group receiving nasal irrigations with a hypertonic seawater solution (Sinomarin®) every 4 hours during a 16-hour interval per day, for two consecutive days, and the control group (no nasal irrigations). Forty-eight hours after the baseline nasopharyngeal swab (and 8 hours after the last wash in the hypertonic seawater group), a second nasopharyngeal swab will be collected for the semiquantitative estimation of the SARS-CoV-2 viral load as determined by cycle threshold (Ct) values.