The antiviral action of common household disinfectants and antiseptics against murine hepatitis virus, a potential surrogate for SARS coronavirus.
BACKGROUND
The 2003 outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) infected over 8000 people and killed 774. Transmission of SARS occurred through direct and indirect contact and large droplet nuclei. The World Health Organization recommended the use of household disinfectants, which have not been previously tested against SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), to disinfect potentially contaminated environmental surfaces. There is a need for a surrogate test system given the limited availability of the SARS-CoV for testing and biosafety requirements necessary to safely handle it. In this study, the antiviral activity of standard household products was assayed against murine hepatitis virus (MHV), as a potential surrogate for SARS-CoV.


METHODS
A surface test method, which involves drying an amount of virus on a surface and then applying the product for a specific contact time, was used to determine the virucidal activity. The virus titers and log reductions were determined by the Reed and Muench tissue culture infective dose (TCID)50 end point method.


RESULTS
When tested as directed, common household disinfectants or antiseptics, containing either 0.050% of triclosan, 0.12% of PCMX, 0.21% of sodium hypochlorite, 0.23% of pine oil, or 0.10% of a quaternary compound with 79% of ethanol, demonstrated a 3-log reduction or better against MHV without any virus recovered in a 30-second contact time.


CONCLUSIONS
Common household disinfectants and antiseptics were effective at inactivating MHV, a possible surrogate for SARS-CoV, from surfaces when used as directed. In an outbreak caused by novel agents, it is important to know the effectiveness of disinfectants and antiseptics to prevent or reduce the possibility of human-to-human transmission via surfaces.
Dellanno
Christine
C
Reckitt Benckiser, Montvale, NJ 07645, USA. christine.dellanno@reckittbenckiser.com
Vega
Quinn
Q
Boesenberg
Diane
D
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D006517:Murine hepatitis virus / Q000187:drug effects*; D028223:Pinus / Q000737:chemistry; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology; D038301:Virus Inactivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000494:pharmacology
D004202:Disinfectants; D010938:Plant Oils; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014992:Xylenes; C007027:chloroxylenol; D014260:Triclosan; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite
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