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Comparison of the Effect of Hydroxychloroquine Versus Favipiravir on SARS-CoV-2 PCR Conversion Time in Healthcare Workers with COVID-19
  • +6
  • Mustafa Çörtük,
  • Unal Güvenç,
  • Pakize Sucu,
  • Ercan Çeğilli,
  • Şeyma Başlılar,
  • Kürşad Nuri Baydili,
  • Melih Akay Arslan,
  • Mualla Kök,
  • Halit Çınarka
Mustafa Çörtük
Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital

Corresponding Author:mcortuk@gmail.com

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Unal Güvenç
Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Research and Training Hospital
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Pakize Sucu
Arnavutköy Public Hospital
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Ercan Çeğilli
Arnavutköy Public Hospital
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Şeyma Başlılar
Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Umraniye Training and Research Hospital
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Kürşad Nuri Baydili
, Institute of Graduate Studies, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa
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Melih Akay Arslan
Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital
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Mualla Kök
Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital
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Halit Çınarka
Faculty of Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Yedikule Chest Diseases and Thoracic Surgery Training and Research Hospital
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Abstract

Background and aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly all over the world and has become a pandemic. Although negative reports have been reported about the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in patients with moderate to severe disease and hospitalized COVID-19 patients, its effect on RT-PCR negativity is unknown, mostly in mild disease and outpatients. In this study, the effects of HCQ and favipiravir on RT-PCR negation were compared. Methods: In this multicenter, retrospective, cross-sectional study, consecutively presenting COVID-19 patients who were positive for RT-PCR between 13 March 2020 and 15 January 2021 were analyzed. Negative RT-PCR results and times were recorded in the follow-up of the patients. All of the patients included in the study consisted of heathcareworkers and the patients were divided into two groups as HCQ or favipiravir users. Results: The favipiravir and HCQ patient groups were similar in terms of age, gender, comorbidities, and hospitalization rate. The median number of PCR-negative cases on the seventh day of treatment was significantly higher in the HCQ group (p = 0.007). The median RT-PCR negation time was 9 days in the HCQ group versus 10 days in the favipiravir group (p = 0.006). Conclusion: The use of HCQ shortens the RT-PCR negative time compared to favipiravir in patients who are in the relatively young age group and have a definite diagnosis of COVID-19. This result is important in terms of viral spread and contamination. There were no side effects that required a change in treatment in either drug group.