COVID-19 PrEP HCW HCQ Study

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is licensed for the chemoprophylaxis and treatment of malaria and as a disease modifying antirheumatic drug. It has a long history of being safe and well tolerated at typical doses. HCQ has antiviral activity in vitro against coronaviruses, and specifically Covid-19. This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for pre exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among health care workers at high risk of occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 compared to the eligible cohort that declines treatment.

Inclusion criteria

for Group A and B

• Men or women ages ≥18 years NYULH health care worker who meets one of the following criteria

• Involved in an aerosol generating procedure (nasopharyngeal specimen collection, tracheal intubation, nebulizer treatment, open airway suctioning, collection of sputum, tracheostomy, bronchoscopy, CPR) on a confirmed COVID-19 patient while wearing PPE
• Direct bedside care of confirmed COVID-19 patient while wearing PPE for 3 or more shifts in a 7 day period
• Direct care of PUIs in the ED or other inpatient unit while wearing PPE for 3 or more shifts in a 7 day period
• Willing and able to provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

for Group A only :

• Known hypersensitivity to hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine
• Known diagnosis of COVID-19
• Concomitant use of

• amiodarone
• digoxin
• flecainide
• procainamide
• propafenone
• History of Torsades de pontes
• History of retinal disease
• Known chronic kidney disease ≥ stage 4
• Congenital prolonged QTc interval syndrome (Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome, Romano-Ward syndrome)