Inactivating influenza viruses on surfaces using hydrogen peroxide or triethylene glycol at low vapor concentrations.
BACKGROUND
Surfaces in congregate settings, such as vehicles used for mass transportation, can become contaminated with infectious microorganisms and facilitate disease transmission. We disinfected surfaces contaminated with H1N1 influenza viruses using hydrogen peroxide (HP) vapor at concentrations below 100 ppm and triethylene glycol (TEG)-saturated air containing 2 ppm of TEG at 25 degrees C.


METHODS
Influenza viruses in aqueous suspensions were deposited on stainless-steel coupons, allowed to dry at ambient conditions, and then exposed for up to 15 minutes to 10 to 90 ppm of HP vapor or TEG-saturated air. Virus assays were done on the solution used to wash the viruses from these coupons and from coupons treated similarly but without exposure to HP or TEG vapor.


RESULTS
After 2.5 minutes, exposure to 10-ppm HP vapor resulted in 99% inactivation. For air saturated with TEG at 25 to 29 degrees C, the disinfection rate was about 1.3 log(10) reductions per hour, about 16 times faster than the measured natural inactivation rate under ambient conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Vapor concentrations of 10 ppm HP or 2 ppm TEG can provide effective surface disinfection. At these low concentrations, the potential for damage to even the avionics of an airplane would be expected to be minimal. At a TEG vapor concentration of 2 ppm, there are essentially no health risks to people.
Rudnick
Stephen N
SN
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. srudnick@hsph.harvard.edu
McDevitt
James J
JJ
First
Melvin W
MW
Spengler
John D
JD
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000187:drug effects*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D038301:Virus Inactivation; D014835:Volatilization
D004202:Disinfectants; C028914:triethylene glycol; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide