title: Evaluation of in vitro efficacy of the disinfectant Virkon.
abstract: A study was conducted on a new acid peroxygen system based disinfectant (Virkon), in order to assess its in vitro efficacy. The chemical was tested on different bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli), spores (Bacillus subtilis) and on the Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and compared in its activity with phenol and glutaraldehyde (calculation of the 'phenol coefficient' and the 'glutaraldehyde coefficient'). The constancy of speed of disinfection, the coefficient of concentration, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) were also determined, and the destruction of the HBsAg antigenic activity was studied using an ELISA kit. The sporicidal efficacy of Virkon was assessed by cultivating spores in agar nutrient after contact with different dilutions of the disinfectant. The results of the tests showed that Virkon has a high concentration coefficient (mean value of k: 0.374/min) and a wide range of action. The low MIC demonstrates how little concentrations of Virkon can inactivate all studied bacteria. The disinfectant was also able to destroy the hepatitis B surface antigen, and it demonstrated good activity against spores, especially if used in physiologic solution. These characteristics, coupled with the absence of initiation or toxic effects on animals showed by other studies, make wide fields of application for the new disinfectant foreseeable.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene, University of Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gasparini
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pozzi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Magnelli
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fatighenti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giotti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Poliseno
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratelli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Severini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bonanni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Feo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000187:drug effects*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000187:drug effects; D010545:Peroxides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013464:Sulfuric Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D010545:Peroxides; D010636:Phenols; D013464:Sulfuric Acids; C071517:monoperoxysulfate; D019800:Phenol; D005976:Glutaral