The virucidal spectrum of a high concentration alcohol mixture.
The virucidal spectrum of a high concentration alcohol mixture (80% ethanol and 5% isopropanol) was determined for a broad series of lipid-enveloped (LE) and non-lipid-enveloped (NLE) viruses covering all relevant blood-borne viruses. LE viruses were represented by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), a specific model virus for hepatitis C virus (HCV), pseudorabies virus (PRV), and vaccinia virus. For the NLE viruses hepatitis A virus, canine parvovirus (a model for human parvovirus B19), and reovirus type 3 (Reo-3) were used. PRV, vaccinia, and Reo-3 served as general model viruses. The alcohol mixture was spiked with 5% (v/v) virus, mixed and tested for residual virus after 5 min treatment. Complete clearance (reduction by a factor of >10(6)) was observed for LE viruses, whereas incomplete to insignificant clearance (ranging from no reduction up to a maximum factor of 10(4)) was found for NLE viruses. In a second series of spiking experiments using the LE viruses BVDV, HIV, and PRV, complete clearance (reduction by a factor of >10(6)) was found after 20 s treatment. These data strongly suggest that treatment with a high concentration alcohol mixture has a high virucidal potential in particular for the blood-borne LE-viruses HIV, hepatitis B virus, and HCV. Such mixtures are well suited for rapid and frequent disinfection in dental practice being non-hazardous and non-toxic.
van Engelenburg
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CLB-Virus Safety Services, Department of Clinical Viro-Immunology, Sanguin Research at CLB, Plesmanlaan 125, 1066 CX, Amsterdam. vss@clb.nl
Terpstra
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Schuitemaker
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Moorer
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D019840:2-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D004338:Drug Combinations; D000431:Ethanol; D019840:2-Propanol