Feasibility, Acceptability, and Safety of a Drug-Free Nasal Spray in Frontline Healthcare Workers

This study looked at whether frontline healthcare workers could use a drug-free nasal spray twice a day for 8 weeks, whether it was safe, and whether they found it acceptable. The spray used in the study (Profi Nasal Spray, Akita Biosciences) was a cosmetic nasal hygiene product made from ingredients already used in nasal and topical products. Healthcare workers at a public hospital in New York City were randomly assigned to use the spray twice a day for 8 weeks or to receive no spray. The study asked: * Feasibility: Could busy healthcare workers use the spray as directed over 8 weeks? * Safety: Were side effects more common in people who used the spray than in people who did not? * Acceptability: How did users feel about the spray, and did they stay in the study? Every 3 days, participants answered a short online questionnaire about spray use, side effects, respiratory symptoms, and contact with patients who had COVID-19, influenza, or RSV. Spray use was checked by weighing the bottles at weeks 4 and 8. To better understand acceptability, about 20 spray users also took part in one-on-one interviews about what it was like to use the spray, including ease of use, fitting it into a daily routine, and anything that made it harder to use.

Inclusion Criteria: * Healthcare workers employed at the study hospital * Age 18 years or older * Able and willing to provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Upper respiratory infection within 7 days before enrollment * Diagnosis of COVID-19, RSV, or influenza within 7 days before enrollment * History of nasal disorders, allergic rhinitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other ear, nose, and throat disorders * Daily use of other nasal sprays * Nasal mucosal erosion, nasal ulceration, or nasal septal perforation * Autoimmune disorder * History of hypersensitivity, allergy, or anaphylactic reactions * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or attempting to become pregnant * Currently taking medication that may affect nasal symptoms or respiratory infection (e.g., nasal decongestants or immunosuppressants)