Abstract
Introduction: While multiple vaccines are undergoing clinical trial across the globe, we yearn for an FDA approved drug to protect us from the devastating pandemic for the time being. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Ivermectin when administered as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19.
 Method: An observational study, with 118 healthcare providers who were enrolled purposively, was conducted in a tertiary hospital in Dhaka from May 2020 to August 2020. The subjects were divided into experimental and control groups; and the experimental group received an oral monthly dose of Ivermectin 12mg for 4 months. Both groups were exposed to COVID-19 positive patients admitted in the hospital during the course of study. The symptomatic subjects were evaluated by physical examination, COVID-19 RT-PCR and/or HRCT of chest. Differences between the variables were determined using the Chi-square test and the level of statistical significance was reached when p<0.05.
 Result: 73.3% (44 out of 60) subjects in control group were positive for COVID-19, whereas only 6.9% (4 out of 58) of the experimental group were diagnosed with COVID-19 (p-value < 0.05).
 Conclusion: Ivermectin, an FDA-approved, safe, cheap and widely available drug, should be subjected to large-scale trials all over the world to ascertain its effectiveness as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19.
Highlights
While multiple vaccines are undergoing clinical trial across the globe, we yearn for an Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved drug to protect us from the devastating pandemic for the time being
Ivermectin, an FDA-approved, safe, cheap and widely available drug, should be subjected to large-scale trials all over the world to ascertain its effectiveness as pre-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences www.ejmed.org the crisis was declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) [2]
Summary
While multiple vaccines are undergoing clinical trial across the globe, we yearn for an FDA approved drug to protect us from the devastating pandemic for the time being. The COVID-19 has proved to be the most devastating and unmanageable crisis the world has ever encountered. The call for an authentic treatment protocol against this virus was made long before. European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences www.ejmed.org the crisis was declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization (WHO) [2]. As of date, no fixed treatment protocol has proved efficacious enough to be declared as the definitive cure for COVID-19. With researchers across the globe striving to find a potent medicine, doctors have resorted to empirical therapy and symptomatic treatment to combat the disease. While the search for an effective vaccine is still underway, it is crucial for researchers and doctors to find an alternative source of prevention using drugs that are already widely available
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