In-vivo efficacy of hand sanitisers against feline calicivirus: a surrogate for norovirus.
Hand disinfection is considered important in preventing the transmission of viruses, including norovirus. We investigated the virucidal efficacy of nine hand sanitisers (four alcohol-based sanitisers, three non-alcoholic sanitisers and two triclosan-containing antimicrobial liquid soaps) against feline calicivirus, a surrogate for norovirus, on artificially contaminated fingertips for 30 s and 2 min contact periods. Among alcohol-based sanitisers, a product containing 99.5% ethanol was more effective than those containing 62% ethanol, 70% isopropanol or 91% isopropanol. A log(10) virus reduction factor of 1.00-1.30 was achieved with 99.5% ethanol but those containing a lower alcohol concentration only achieved a log(10) reduction factor of <or=0.67. Antiseptics containing 10% povidone-iodine (equivalent to 1% available iodine) reduced virus titre by a log(10) reduction factor of 2.67 within 30s contact time. This viral reduction rate was higher than that achieved with any of the alcohol-based sanitisers, non-alcoholic sanitisers or antimicrobial soaps. The two antimicrobial soaps tested showed minimal virus reduction (a log(10) reduction factor of 0.17-0.50), which is similar to that obtained by washing hands without any soap (a log(10) reduction factor of 0.33-0.42). These results indicate that triclosan-containing antimicrobial soaps or alcohol-based hand rubs may be inadequate for preventing norovirus transmission. Further research on alternative hand sanitisers should continue for effective control of norovirus infections.
Lages
S L S
SL
Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108, USA.
Ramakrishnan
M A
MA
Goyal
S M
SM
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017927:Calicivirus, Feline / Q000187:drug effects*; D002415:Cats; D002460:Cell Line; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D029322:Norovirus / Q000187:drug effects; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012915:Soaps / Q000494:pharmacology; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012915:Soaps; D000431:Ethanol; D014260:Triclosan; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D019840:2-Propanol