THE USE OF NARROW BAND UVB PHOTOTHERAPY IN THE PREVENTION OF HOSPITAL VIRAL INFECTIONS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A RANDOMIZED AND OPEN CLINICAL TRIAL

Introduction and objectives: The new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has spread to different regions of the world. The disease is characterized by pneumonia of viral origin. The delay in weaning from mechanical ventilation places health professionals as a risk category for occupational disease. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is known for its deleterious effects on nucleic acids. Although UVC is the most effective (260nm), UVB and UVA radiation also alter the genetic material of viruses. We believe that the treatment of healthcare professionals with narrow-band UVB still dressed in PPE before disposal can reduce the chance of contamination by COVID-19. The main objective of the present study is to assess the relative risk of COVID-19 infection in patients using the phototherapy modality. We also aim to set up an alternative sector, for processing COVID-19 exams at the Hospital Universitário de Brasília. Methodology: Health professionals from the Hospital Universitário de Brasília - HUB, who have direct contact with inpatients will be included. The primary outcome for this study will be COVID-19-proven infection at any time measured up to 6 months after recruitment. As an intervention, we will do a narrow band UVB phototherapy session for 5 minutes plus the usual asepsis techniques, compared to the isolated use of the usual asepsis techniques. The influence of various risk factors over time will be measured by the Cox proportional hazards model. who have direct contact with inpatients. The primary outcome for this study will be COVID-19-proven infection at any time measured up to 6 months after recruitment. As an intervention, we will do a narrow band UVB phototherapy session for 5 minutes plus the usual asepsis techniques, compared to the isolated use of the usual asepsis techniques. The influence of various risk factors over time will be measured by the Cox proportional hazards model. who have direct contact with inpatients. The primary outcome for this study will be COVID-19-proven infection at any time measured up to 6 months after recruitment. As an intervention we will do a narrow band UVB phototherapy session for 5 minutes plus the usual asepsis techniques, compared to the isolated use of the usual asepsis techniques. The influence of various risk factors over time will be measured by the Cox proportional hazards model.