@article {Crisan-DabijaPA816, author = {Radu Adrian Crisan-Dabija and Claudia Elena Grigoras-Ichim and Alina Costina Luca and Gabriel Ioan Sandu and Dumitru Filipeanu}, title = {Halotherapy and Covid-19: an oppinion for~a possible future prevention approach}, volume = {58}, number = {suppl 65}, elocation-id = {PA816}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA816}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Halotherapy is a well-know and recognized natural alternative respiratory treatment with benefits on supporting and augmenting~the allopathic recommendations mainly in chronical patients.Salt aerosols act on the respirtory mucosa by activating~the Na/H pump thus lowering the phagosomal pH and activating~the~lytic enzymes. The Chloride ion is toxic for the microbial life and, along with~the dehydrating action of potassium, decrease the change of viral or bacterial proliferance in the respiratory tract.~Studies (1) have shown benefits in using halotherapy and preventive use has also been proposed (2).In our clinic we asked 15 colleagues, resident doctors and nurses, to perform nasal saline irrigations daily after working in the Covid-19 sector (or after possible suspect encounter) for a period of 2~months. They have all been periodically tested (at 14 days intervals) for sars-Cov-2 infection by RT-PCR method. At the end of the 2 month period, none of them were detected positive for Sars-Cov-2 during this period and they all worked with Covid-19 patients or had unprotected encounters with Covid-19 suspects.Given the possible protective mechanisms of halotherapy, it seems that using periodically saline irigations and conforming with hygene and epidemiological rules~(wearing a mask, hand hygene, etc.) halotherapy might be a simple method of preventing Sars-Cov-2 infection in medical personnel exposed periodically to viral encounters.1. Sandu I, et al. {\quotedblbase}The Role of Saline Aerosols in the Prevention and Therapy of Cardio-respiratory and Osteo-muscular Afflictions{\textquotedblright}. 2018, REV.CHIM.(69)2. Farrell NF et.al. JAMA doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2020.1622FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA816.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session {\textquotedblleft}Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD{\textquotedblright}.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA816}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }