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Efficacy of Detergent-Based Cleaning and Wiping against SARS-CoV-2 on High Touch Surfaces
Citation:
Nelson, S., R. Hardison, R. Limmer, J. Marx, B. Taylor, R. James, Michael Stewart, S. Lee, W. Calfee, S. Ryan, AND M. Howard. Efficacy of Detergent-Based Cleaning and Wiping against SARS-CoV-2 on High Touch Surfaces. Letters in Applied Microbiology. Blackwell Publishing, Malden, MA, 76(3):ovad033, (2023). https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovad033
Impact/Purpose:
This study evaluated cleaning methods incorporating surface wetting and wiping against SARS-CoV-2 carried in either 5% soil load (SARS-soil) or simulated saliva (SARS-SS) and either immediately after inoculation of the surface (wet virus, T0) or 2 hours post-inoculation (dried virus, T2). Hard water dampened wiping (HWDW), resulted in 1.77-3.91 log reduction (T0) and 0.93-2.41 log reduction (T2).. Combining detergent or hard water surface wetting with HWDW did not increase efficacy against infectious SARS-CoV-2, however the effect is nuanced with respect to surface, viral matrix, and time. Detergent-based cleaning efficacy on non-porous surfaces (SS, ABS, Formica) ranged from 0.74 to 2.24 log reduction for Dawn and 0.73 to 2.78 log reduction for Tide against wet virus and 0.63 to 3.02 log reduction (Dawn) and 0.23 to 4.1 log reduction (Tide) against dried virus. On porous surfaces (seat fabric, SF), detergent based cleaning efficacy was similar at T0, but no efficacy was observed at T2 with any method (-0.37-0.22 log reduction), suggesting that material type affects efficacy, particularly against dried virus (T2). Hard water cleaning (T0, 1.3-2.36 log reduction; T2, 0.02-3.36 log reduction) was as effective as Dawn and Tide, except for SARS-soil at T2 on SS, suggesting that use of surfactant does not provide significant gains in efficacy in most cases for these pre-cleaned surfaces used in this testing. HWDW was the only method which consistently resulted in > 3-log reduction of SARS-soil and SARS-SS on SS and ABS, and SARS-soil on Formica, at T0. These results suggest wiping with a pre-wetted wipe can reduce infectious virus on hard non-porous surfaces and the addition of detergent may not result in significant additional reduction; results are less consistent than expectations (> 3 log reduction) for use of effective disinfectants on hard non-porous surfaces.
Description:
Efficacy of cleaning methods against SARS-CoV-2 suspended in either 5% soil load (SARS-soil) or simulated saliva (SARS-SS) was evaluated immediately (hydrated virus, T0) or 2 hours post-contamination (dried virus, T2). Hard water dampened wiping (DW) of surfaces, resulted in 1.77–3.91 log reduction (T0) or 0.93–2.41 log reduction (T2). Incorporating surface pre-wetting by spraying with a detergent solution (D + DW) or hard water (W + DW) just prior to dampened wiping did not unilaterally increase efficacy against infectious SARS-CoV-2, however, the effect was nuanced with respect to surface, viral matrix, and time. Cleaning efficacy on porous surfaces (seat fabric, SF) was low. W + DW on stainless steel (SS) was as effective as D + DW for all conditions except SARS-soil at T2 on SS. DW was the only method that consistently resulted in > 3-log reduction of hydrated (T0) SARS-CoV-2 on SS and ABS plastic. These results suggest that wiping with a hard water dampened wipe can reduce infectious virus on hard non-porous surfaces. Pre-wetting surfaces with surfactants did not significantly increase efficacy for the conditions tested. Surface material, presence or absence of pre-wetting, and time post-contamination affect efficacy of cleaning methods.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Efficacy of Detergent-Based Cleaning and Wiping against SARS-CoV-2 on High Touch Surfaces
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