Efficacy of vaporized hydrogen peroxide against exotic animal viruses

Abstract

The efficacy of vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide in a pass-through box for the decontamination of equipment and inanimate materials potentially contaminated with exotic animal viruses was evaluated. Tests were conducted with a variety of viral agents, which included representatives of several virus families (Orthomyxoviridae, Reoviridae, Flaviviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Herpesviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, and Rhabdoviridae) from both avian and mammalian species, with particular emphasis on animal viruses exotic to Canada. The effects of the gas on a variety of laboratory equipment were also studied. Virus suspensions in cell culture media, egg fluid, or blood were dried onto glass and stainless steel. Virus viability was assessed after exposure to vaporphase hydrogen peroxide for 30 min. For all viruses tested and under all conditions (except one), the decontamination process reduced the virus titer to 0 embryo-lethal doses for the avian viruses (avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses) or less than 10 tissue culture infective doses for the mammalian viruses (African swine fever, bluetongue, hog cholera, pseudorabies, swine vesicular disease, vesicular exanthema, and vesicular stomatitis viruses). The laboratory equipment exposed to the gas appeared to suffer no adverse effects. Vaporphase hydrogen peroxide decontamination can be recommended as a safe and efficacious way of removing potentially virus-contaminated objects from biocontainment level III laboratories in which exotic animal disease virus agents are handled.

Evaluating the virucidal efficacy of hydrogen peroxide vapour

“…14,26 Due to the relatively short drying and exposure time in this experiment, it was possible to achieve a higher titre on the control discs at the end of the process than in previous studies. 14,26 No AIV or SwIV was detected after exposure to HPV, and a >4-log reduction was achieved for the 27-mL and 33-mL doses.…”

“…24 Contaminated environmental surfaces are known to contribute to the spread of these viruses, 2 and various physical and chemical disinfection processes have been shown to inactivate influenza virus on surfaces 25 including aerosolized and vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide. 14,26,27 Many of these studies, however, were limited by the relatively low titre of virus recovered on the controls after the process because of low initial virus titre and loss of viability due to long exposure times and exposure to ambient environmental conditions. 14,26 Due to the relatively short drying and exposure time in this experiment, it was possible to achieve a higher titre on the control discs at the end of the process than in previous studies.…”

“…14,26,27 Many of these studies, however, were limited by the relatively low titre of virus recovered on the controls after the process because of low initial virus titre and loss of viability due to long exposure times and exposure to ambient environmental conditions. 14,26 Due to the relatively short drying and exposure time in this experiment, it was possible to achieve a higher titre on the control discs at the end of the process than in previous studies. 14,26 No AIV or SwIV was detected after exposure to HPV, and a >4-log reduction was achieved for the 27-mL and 33-mL doses.…”

Disinfection and Sterilization in Health Care Facilities

“…HPV has been used for the decontamination of rooms in health care. [73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82][83] Studies have demonstrated that HP systems are a highly effective method for eradicating various pathogens (eg, MRSA, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Serratia, C difficile spores, Clostridium botulinum spores) from rooms, furniture, and equipment.…”

Inactivation of an enterovirus by airborne disinfectants

“…The virucidal activity of liquid products towards viruses in suspension and viruses dried on a surface has been described and procedures have been recommended [7]. In contrast, papers reports the virucidal effect of airborne disinfection are sparse [8][9][10][11][12].…”