WITHDRAWN: Efficacy and Safety of Ivermectin for Treatment and prophylaxis of COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Up-to-date, there is no recognized effective treatment or vaccine for the treatment of COVID-19 that emphasize urgency around distinctive effective therapies. This study aims to evaluate the anti-parasitic medication efficacy "Ivermectin" plus standard care ((Azithromycin, vitamin C, Zinc, Lactoferrin &amp; Acetylcystein &amp; prophylactic or therapeutic anticoagulation if D-dimer &gt; 1000)) in the treatment of mild/moderate and severely ill cases with COVID 19 infection, as well as prophylaxis of health care and/ or household contacts in comparison to the <italic>Hydroxychloroquine</italic> plus standard treatment. <bold>Subject and methods:</bold> 600 subjects; 400 symptomatic confirmed COVID-19 patients and 200 health care and household contacts distributed over 6 groups; <italic>Group I</italic> <bold>:</bold> 100 patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 infection received a 4-days course of Ivermectin plus standard of care; <italic>Group II:</italic> 100 patients with mild/moderate COVID-19 infection received hydroxychloroquine plus standard of care; <italic>Group III:</italic> 100 patients with severe COVID-19 infection received Ivermectin plus standard of care; <italic>Group IV</italic> : 100 patients with Severe COVID-19 infection received hydroxychloroquine plus standard of care. Routine laboratory investigations and RT-PCR, were reported before and after initiation of treatment. <italic>Group V stick to PPE plus Ivermectin 400mcg / kg on empty stomach to be repeated after one week, and group VI stick to PPE only (personal protective equipment) .Both groups V&amp;VI were followed for two weeks ..</italic> <bold>Results:</bold> Patients received ivermectin reported substantial recovery of laboratory investigations; and significant reduction in RT-PCR conversion days. A substantial improvement and reduction in mortality rate in Ivermectin treated groups; group I (mild/moderate cases), (99%, and 0.0%, respectively) and group III (severe cases), (94%, and 2.0% respectively) versus hydroxychloroquine plus standard care treated groups; group II (mild/moderate cases), (74% and 4%, respectively) and group IV (severe cases) (50% and 20%, respectively). Ivermectin had significantly reduced the incidence of infection in health care and household contacts up to 2% compared to 10% in non ivermectin group when used as a prophylaxis. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> <italic/> Addition of Ivermectin to standard care is very effective drug for treatment of COVID-19 patients with significant reduction in mortality compared to Hydroxychloroquine plus standard treatment only. Early use of Ivermectin is very useful for controlling COVID 19 infections; prophylaxis and improving cytokines storm