Preventing Respiratory Viral Illness Invisibly

NCT05084898 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 32906-UVC
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 550
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 3

Brief Summary

Elderly people who have multiple health problems are at higher risk of illness from viral respiratory infections, such as influenza (the flu) and COVID-19. This is especially true for residents in long-term care because the usual methods of infection control (handwashing, mask-wearing, and distancing) are difficult to enforce due to the memory problems of many residents and the frequently shared common spaces. It can also be difficult to prevent the spread of viral infections within long-term care because many residents are unable to tell their caregivers when they are feeling ill. Also, some elderly people do not show typical symptoms of infection (like fever), instead they may suddenly become confused or weak. This study will test if a safe form of ultraviolet light (far-UVC) can be effective as an extra method of disinfection (in addition to usual manual cleaning) against airborne and surface viruses that can cause respiratory infections.

Conditions

COVID-19 Respiratory Infection; Respiratory Virus Infection; Influenza -Like Illness

Keywords

Far-UVC; long-term care; respiratory illnesses; disinfection methods; viral infections

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• A diagnosis of COVID-19 or other respiratory viral infection

  Diagnosis will be based on positive laboratory finding of SARS-CoV-2, influenza A, influenza B, respiratory syncytial virus, or other respiratory viral infections (as per available testing). Testing will be performed on nasal swabs collected from participants who are positive for any of the symptoms in the screening protocol.

  Over 3 flu seasons, approximately 28 months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Time to recovery or death

  From the date of diagnosis until the date of recovery or date of death, whichever comes first, assessed up to 30 days.

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Far-UVC light as an additional method of disinfection

Other: Far-UVC light as an additional method of disinfection

Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

"Inactive" fluorescent light (no additional disinfection)

Other: Placebo fluorescent light

Interventions

Far-UVC light as an additional method of disinfection OTHER

Far-UVC light is a form of ultraviolet light with an extremely short wavelength (222 nm)

Intervention

Placebo fluorescent light OTHER

"Inactive" fluorescent light (no additional disinfection)

Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kenneth Rockwood: lead
• Department of Health, Nova Scotia: collaborator
• Research Nova Scotia: collaborator
• Nova Scotia Health Authority: collaborator

Study Sites (3)

Northwood Halifax Campus

Halifax, Nova Scotia, b3k3s5, Canada

Location

The Cove Guest Home

Sydney, Nova Scotia, B1S 2G1, Canada

Location

Windsor Elms Village

Windsor, Nova Scotia, b0p1l0, Canada

Location

Related Publications (19)

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  PMID: 32171866 BACKGROUND

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  PMID: 32199471 BACKGROUND

• Simard J, Volicer L. Loneliness and Isolation in Long-term Care and the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Am Med Dir Assoc. 2020 Jul;21(7):966-967. doi: 10.1016/j.jamda.2020.05.006. Epub 2020 May 8. No abstract available.

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• El Haj M, Altintas E, Chapelet G, Kapogiannis D, Gallouj K. High depression and anxiety in people with Alzheimer's disease living in retirement homes during the covid-19 crisis. Psychiatry Res. 2020 Sep;291:113294. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113294. Epub 2020 Jul 13.

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  PMID: 23145997 BACKGROUND

• Nix HP, Meeker S, King CE, Andrew M, Davis IRC, Koto PS, Sim M, Murdoch J, Patriquin G, Theriault C, Reidy S, Rockwood M, Sampalli T, Searle SD, Rockwood K. Preventing Respiratory Viral Illness Invisibly (PRiVII): protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomized trial evaluating far-UVC light devices in long-term care facilities to reduce infections. Trials. 2024 Jan 26;25(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s13063-024-07909-0.

  PMID: 38279184 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Virus Diseases

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Infections

Study Officials

• Kenneth Rockwood, MD

  Nova Scotia Health Authority

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: QUADRUPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, CARE PROVIDER, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: BIinding in this study involves the use of a placebo arm. The placebo lamps will look exactly like the active far-UVC lamps, but they will produce regular fluorescent light and have no disinfection properties. The trial will be blinded to everyone involved in the study except for one member of the lead coordinating team who must remain unblinded to provide lamp allocation guidance to the installing electricians. This person will not be involved in data collection or analysis, nor will they have access to participant identifying information, only their deidentified study ID.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Geriatrician

Model Details: Residents of three LTC facilities, will be cluster-randomized based on the 'neighbourhoods' they live in (social groups of 18-36) with a 1:1 allocation ratio. Randomization will be stratified by the LTC facility.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 26, 2021
• First Posted: October 20, 2021
• Study Start: October 1, 2021
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2025
• Study Completion: May 1, 2025
• Last Updated: January 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (3)