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Letter| Volume 48, ISSUE 8, P972-973, August 2020

Microbicidal actives with virucidal efficacy against SARS-CoV-2

Published:May 24, 2020DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.015
Microbicidal actives with virucidal efficacy against SARS-CoV-2
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      To the Editor,
      Given the practical importance of microbicides having efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 in home, community, and health care settings, we report evidence of the virucidal efficacy of a number of formulated microbicidal actives against SARS-CoV-2, as evaluated per ASTM International

      ASTM International. ASTM E1052-20. Standard practice to assess the activity of microbicides against viruses in suspension. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1052.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020.

      ,

      ASTM International. ASTM E1053-20. Standard practice to assess virucidal activity of chemicals intended for disinfection of inanimate, nonporous environmental surfaces. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1053.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020

      and EN

      British Standards Institute. BS EN 14476:2013+A2:2019. Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area. Test method and requirements (Phase 2/Step 1). 2019; Available at: https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-us/Standards/BS-EN-14476-2013-A2-2019-238423_SAIG_BSI_BSI_2753744/. Accessed May 7, 2020

      standards.
      Dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 from infected to susceptible individuals is believed to occur directly, via respiratory droplets and droplet nuclei/aerosols, and indirectly through contaminated high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES).

      World Health Organization. Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations. 2020; Available at:https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations. Accessed May 7, 2020

      SARS-CoV-2 has been reported to remain infectious on contaminated HITES for hours to days,
      • Chin AWH
      • Chu JTS
      • Perera MRA
      • et al.
      Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions.
      Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e10
      allowing for onward self-infection of new individuals when contaminated hands come into contact with susceptible tissues (mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, and mouth). This Droplets-HITES-Hands nexus
      • Ijaz MK
      • Zargar B
      • Wright KE
      • Rubino JR
      • Sattar SA
      Generic aspects of the airborne spread of human pathogens indoor and emerging air decontamination technologies.
      Am J Inf Control. 2016; 44: S95-S101
      is central to the chain of infection with SARS-CoV-2, and highlights the critical role that targeted application of effective microbicides against potentially contaminated HITES and hands plays in infection prevention and control during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
      Fortunately, enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 are among the most susceptible of pathogens to formulated microbicidal actives and detergents (including personal care soaps and liquid hand washes).
      • Ijaz MK
      • Rubino JR.
      Should test methods for disinfectants use vertebrate virus dried on carriers to advance virucidal claims?.
      Inf Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2008; 29: 192-194
      ,
      • Ijaz MK
      • Sattar SA
      • Rubino JR
      • Nims RW
      • Gerba CP
      Combating SARS-CoV-2: leveraging microbicidal experiences with other emerging/re-emerging viruses. [e-pub ahead of print].
      OSF Preprints. 2020; (Accessed June 9, 2020)https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/wjzuq
      Inactivation of such viruses by formulated microbicidal actives and detergents is believed to occur as a result of disruption of the virally modified, host-cell-derived, phospholipid bilayer glycoproteinaceous envelope, and the associated spike glycoproteins that interact with the angiotensin-converting enzyme receptor required for infection of host cells.
      • Ijaz MK
      • Sattar SA
      • Rubino JR
      • Nims RW
      • Gerba CP
      Combating SARS-CoV-2: leveraging microbicidal experiences with other emerging/re-emerging viruses. [e-pub ahead of print].
      OSF Preprints. 2020; (Accessed June 9, 2020)https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/wjzuq
      Virucidal efficacy of a selection of formulated microbicidal actives against SARS-CoV-2 has, to date, been assumed based on efficacy data obtained using other coronaviruses
      • Ijaz MK
      • Sattar SA
      • Rubino JR
      • Nims RW
      • Gerba CP
      Combating SARS-CoV-2: leveraging microbicidal experiences with other emerging/re-emerging viruses. [e-pub ahead of print].
      OSF Preprints. 2020; (Accessed June 9, 2020)https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/wjzuq
      ,
      • Kampf G
      • Todt D
      • Pfaender S
      • Steinmann E
      Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents.
      J Hosp Inf. 2020; 104: 246-251
      or, as reported recently,
      • Chin AWH
      • Chu JTS
      • Perera MRA
      • et al.
      Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions.
      Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e10
      based on nonstandardized methods of assessing viral inactivation (ie, log10 reduction in infectious titer) in suspension without details of the testing method used including appropriate controls. To date, virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 has not been demonstrated definitively through testing conducted per standardized surface

      ASTM International. ASTM E1053-20. Standard practice to assess virucidal activity of chemicals intended for disinfection of inanimate, nonporous environmental surfaces. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1053.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020

      and suspension

      ASTM International. ASTM E1052-20. Standard practice to assess the activity of microbicides against viruses in suspension. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1052.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020.

      ,

      British Standards Institute. BS EN 14476:2013+A2:2019. Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area. Test method and requirements (Phase 2/Step 1). 2019; Available at: https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-us/Standards/BS-EN-14476-2013-A2-2019-238423_SAIG_BSI_BSI_2753744/. Accessed May 7, 2020

      methodologies. In Table 1, we provide definitive evidence of efficacy for inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, on contaminated prototypic HITES and suspensions, of products formulated with the following microbicidal actives: ethyl alcohol, para-chloro-meta-xylenol, salicylic acid, and quaternary ammonium compounds. All of the microbicidal actives were effective for inactivating SARS-CoV-2, demonstrating ≥3.0 to ≥4.7 log10 reduction of infectious virus within the tested 1 to 5 minutes contact time in virucidal efficacy testing conducted per applicable ASTM International and EN standards.
      Table 1Virucidal efficacy of formulated microbicidal actives against SARS-CoV-2
      Virucidal efficacy testing was conducted by Microbac Laboratories, Inc (Sterling, VA). The test cells were Vero E6, an African green monkey kidney cell obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC CRL-1586). The growth medium was minimal essential medium supplemented with 5% FBS, L-glutamine, and antibiotics.
      Product typeActive ingredient concentrationTemperature

      (°C)      		Contact time (minutes)Log10 reduction in infectious SARS-CoV-2 titer achieved
      In productTested
      Tested per ASTM E1052-20 or EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 on SARS-CoV-2 in suspension studies with a 5% FBS organic load
      Antiseptic liquid
      Tested using EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 methodology.3
      		4.7% w/v0.094% w/v PCMX (tested at 1:50 of supplied)215≥4.7
      Hand sanitizer gel
      Tested using EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 methodology.3
      		61% w/w49% w/w ethanol (tested at 1:1.25 of supplied)211≥4.2
      Liquid hand wash
      Tested using ASTM E1052-20 methodology.1
      		0.10% w/w0.025% w/w salicylic acid (tested at 1:4 of supplied)371≥3.1
      Bar soap
      Tested using ASTM E1052-20 methodology.1
      		0.11% w/w0.018% w/w PCMX (tested at 1:6.25 of supplied)381≥3.0
      Surface cleanser
      Tested using EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 methodology.3
      		0.096% w/w0.077% w/w QAC
      Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (C12-16).
      (tested at 1:1.25 of supplied)      		215≥4.1
      Tested per ASTM E1053-20 on SARS-CoV-2 dried on a glass surface with a 5% FBS organic load
      Disinfectant wipes
      Where multiple values are displayed, this reflects the testing of multiple independent lots of the formulated microbicidal actives.
      		0.19% w/w0.19% w/w QAC
      Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.
      (tested as supplied)      		212≥3.5, ≥3.5, ≥3.5
      Disinfectant spray
      Where multiple values are displayed, this reflects the testing of multiple independent lots of the formulated microbicidal actives.
      		50% w/w ethanol 0.083% w/w QAC50% w/w ethanol 0.083% w/w QAC
      Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate.
      (tested as supplied)      		212≥4.6, ≥4.7, ≥4.5
      FBS, fetal bovine serum; PCMX, para-chloro-meta-xylenol; QAC, quaternary ammonium compound; SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (isolate USA-WA1/2020, obtained from CDC through BRI Resources), w/v, weight to volume; w/w, weight to weight.
      low asterisk Virucidal efficacy testing was conducted by Microbac Laboratories, Inc (Sterling, VA). The test cells were Vero E6, an African green monkey kidney cell obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC CRL-1586). The growth medium was minimal essential medium supplemented with 5% FBS, L-glutamine, and antibiotics.
      † Tested using EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 methodology.

      British Standards Institute. BS EN 14476:2013+A2:2019. Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area. Test method and requirements (Phase 2/Step 1). 2019; Available at: https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-us/Standards/BS-EN-14476-2013-A2-2019-238423_SAIG_BSI_BSI_2753744/. Accessed May 7, 2020

      ‡ Tested using ASTM E1052-20 methodology.

      ASTM International. ASTM E1052-20. Standard practice to assess the activity of microbicides against viruses in suspension. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1052.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020.

      § Alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride (C12-16).
      | Where multiple values are displayed, this reflects the testing of multiple independent lots of the formulated microbicidal actives.
      Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride.
      # Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium saccharinate.
      To our knowledge, this is the first report of the virucidal efficacy of formulated microbicidal actives, determined using industry/regulatory-relevant global standardized (ASTM International, EN) methodologies, for inactivating SARS-CoV-2. Products formulated with the microbicidal actives studied here should be useful for healthcare workers, researchers, and the public at large as critical interventions for infection prevention and control of SARS-CoV-2 and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

      References

      1. ASTM International. ASTM E1052-20. Standard practice to assess the activity of microbicides against viruses in suspension. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1052.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020.

        View in Article

      2. ASTM International. ASTM E1053-20. Standard practice to assess virucidal activity of chemicals intended for disinfection of inanimate, nonporous environmental surfaces. 2020; Available at: https://www.astm.org/Standards/E1053.htm. Accessed May 7, 2020

        View in Article

      3. British Standards Institute. BS EN 14476:2013+A2:2019. Chemical disinfectants and antiseptics. Quantitative suspension test for the evaluation of virucidal activity in the medical area. Test method and requirements (Phase 2/Step 1). 2019; Available at: https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-us/Standards/BS-EN-14476-2013-A2-2019-238423_SAIG_BSI_BSI_2753744/. Accessed May 7, 2020

        View in Article

      4. World Health Organization. Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations. 2020; Available at:https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations. Accessed May 7, 2020

        View in Article
        • Chin AWH
        • Chu JTS
        • Perera MRA
        • et al.
        Stability of SARS-CoV-2 in different environmental conditions.
        Lancet Microbe. 2020; 1: e10
        View in Article
        • Ijaz MK
        • Zargar B
        • Wright KE
        • Rubino JR
        • Sattar SA
        Generic aspects of the airborne spread of human pathogens indoor and emerging air decontamination technologies.
        Am J Inf Control. 2016; 44: S95-S101
        View in Article
        • Ijaz MK
        • Rubino JR.
        Should test methods for disinfectants use vertebrate virus dried on carriers to advance virucidal claims?.
        Inf Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2008; 29: 192-194
        View in Article
        • Ijaz MK
        • Sattar SA
        • Rubino JR
        • Nims RW
        • Gerba CP
        Combating SARS-CoV-2: leveraging microbicidal experiences with other emerging/re-emerging viruses. [e-pub ahead of print].
        OSF Preprints. 2020; (Accessed June 9, 2020)https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/wjzuq
        View in Article
        • Kampf G
        • Todt D
        • Pfaender S
        • Steinmann E
        Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents.
        J Hosp Inf. 2020; 104: 246-251
        View in Article

      Article info

      Publication history

      Published online: May 24, 2020

      Footnotes

      Conflicts of interest: None to report.

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.015

      Copyright

      © 2020 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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