VIRUSES CAN QUICKLY CONTAMINATE BUILDINGS
Using tracer viruses,
researchers found that contamination of just a single doorknob or table top
results in the spread of viruses throughout office buildings, hotels, and
health care facilities. Within 2 to 4 hours, the virus could be detected on 40
to 60 percent of workers and visitors in the facilities and commonly touched
objects, according to research presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), an infectious disease meeting of
the American Society for Microbiology
There is a simple
solution, though, says Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona, Tucson, who
presented the study.
"Using
disinfecting wipes containing quaternary ammonium compounds (QUATS) registered
by EPA as effective against viruses like norovirus and flu, along with hand
hygiene, reduced virus spread by 80 to 99 percent," he says.
Norovirus is the most
common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year, it causes an
estimated 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000
hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Touching surfaces or objects contaminated
with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth is a common source of
infection.
In the study, Gerba
and his colleagues used bacteriophage MS-2 as a surrogate for the human
norovirus, as it is similar in shape, size and resistance to disinfectants. The
phage was placed on 1 to 2 commonly touched surfaces (door knob or table top)
at the beginning of the day in office buildings, conference room and a health
care facility. After various periods of time (2 to 8 hours) they sampled 60 to
100 fomites, surfaces capable of carrying infectious organisms (light switches,
bed rails, table tops, countertops, push buttons, coffee pots handles, sink tap
handles, door knobs, phones and computer equipment), for the phages.
"Within 2 to 4
hours between 40 to 60% of the fomites sampled were contaminated with
virus," says Gerba.
In the intervention
phase cleaning personal and employees were provided with QUATS disinfectant
containing wipes and instructed on proper use (use of at least once daily). The
number of fomites on which virus was detected was reduced by 80% or greater and
the concentration of virus reduced by 99% or more.
There are 90 different
EPA-registered quat-based formulations available under 1500 different brand
names that are formulated to kill norovirus on solid surfaces. These are
available as wipes or ready-to-use liquids or concentrates for use by
professional maintenance teams.
"The results
shown that viral contamination of fomites in facilities occurs quickly, and
that a simple intervention can greatly help to reduce exposure to
viruses," says Gerba.
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