Treating various respiratory viral infections such as COVID-19 and influenza may be aided by using the over-the-counter antibiotic ointment Neosporin.
Yale researchers recently published results of their study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study utilized mice and hamsters which were treated intranasally with neomycin. Researchers found that the neomycin triggered a strong immune response against influenza A and COVID-19. In addition, the intranasal treatment of neomycin significantly reduced contact transmission of COVID-19 in hamsters. The same positive results were noted in human volunteers as well.
Researchers see these study results as hopefully making available a cheap and generic antibiotic treatment to help prevent the spread of viral illnesses.
