Efficacy of various disinfectants against SARS coronavirus

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 61; no. 2; pp. 107 - 111
• Main Authors: Rabenau, H.F., Kampf, G., Cinatl, J., Doerr, H.W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2005; Elsevier; The Hospital Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - chemistry; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorocebus aethiops; Detergents - chemistry; Detergents - pharmacology; Disinfectants; Disinfectants - chemistry; Disinfectants - classification; Disinfectants - pharmacology; Gels; Hand Disinfection - methods; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; prEN 14476; SARS coronavirus; SARS Virus - drug effects; SARS Virus - growth & development; SARS-CoV; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - virology; Vero Cells; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the respiratory system and ent viral diseases; Virucidal activity; Asia; America; Virucidal activity; prEN 14476; Disinfectants; SARS-CoV; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Benzalkonium chloride; Inorganic element; Hand; Quaternary ammonium compound; Infection; Virus; Coronavirus; Viral disease; Antiseptic; Antiviral; Magnesium; Coronaviridae; Disinfecting agent; Nidovirales
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2004.12.023

The recent severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Asia and Northern America led to broad use of various types of disinfectant in order to control the public spread of the highly contagious virus. However, only limited data were available to demonstrate their efficacy against SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV). We therefore investigated eight disinfectants for their activity against SARS-CoV according to prEN 14476. Four hand rubs were tested at 30s (Sterillium, based on 45% iso-propanol, 30% n-propanol and 0.2% mecetronium etilsulphate; Sterillium Rub, based on 80% ethanol; Sterillium Gel, based on 85% ethanol; Sterillium Virugard, based on 95% ethanol). Three surface disinfectants were investigated at 0.5% for 30min and 60min (Mikrobac forte, based on benzalkonium chloride and laurylamine; Kohrsolin FF, based on benzalkonium chloride, glutaraldehyde and didecyldimonium chloride; Dismozon pur, based on magnesium monoperphthalate), and one instrument disinfectant was investigated at 4% for 15min, 3% for 30min and 2% for 60min [Korsolex basic, based on glutaraldehyde and (ethylenedioxy)dimethanol]. Three types of organic load were used: 0.3% albumin, 10% fetal calf serum, and 0.3% albumin with 0.3% sheep erythrocytes. Virus titres were determined by a quantitative test (endpoint titration) in 96-well microtitre plates. With all tested preparations, SARS-CoV was inactivated to below the limit of detection (reduction factor mostly ≥4), regardless of the type of organic load. In summary, SARS-CoV can be inactivated quite easily with many commonly used disinfectants.