Methods for the recovery of a model virus from healthcare personal protective equipment

Abstract

Aims: To develop methods for recovering a model virus (bacteriophage MS2) from healthcare personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods and Results: Nine eluents were evaluated for recovery of infectious MS2 from PPE: 1·5% beef extract (BE) pH 7·5 with and without 0·1% Tween 80, 1·5% BE pH 9·0 with and without 0·1% Tween 80, 3% BE pH 7·5 with and without 0·1% Tween 80, 3% BE pH 9·0 with and without 0·1% Tween 80 and PBS with 0·1% Tween 80. Methods were applied to experimentally contaminated PPE. Elution followed by two‐step enrichment assay could recover virus inputs as low as 1·5 log10, and could recover >90% of inoculated virus from used items of experimentally contaminated PPE worn by human volunteers. Conclusions: BE was effective for recovering infectious viruses from a range of PPE materials. Significance and Impact of the Study: PPE plays a crucial role in interrupting transmission of infectious agents from patients to healthcare workers (HCWs). The fate of micro‐organisms when PPE is removed and disposed of has important consequences for infection control. Methods described here can be used to conduct rigorous studies of viral survival and transfer on PPE for risk assessments in infection control and HCW protection.

Comparison of spike and aerosol challenge tests for the recovery of viable influenza virus from non‐woven fabrics

“…However, the increase of BE from 1·5% to 3% did not increase virus recovery, especially for Nylon (Figure 2). Increased BE concentration was also found to yield a lower recovery of MS2 bacteriophage28 and the mechanisms behind it are not clear.…”

Effect of single- versus double-gloving on virus transfer to health care workers’ skin and clothing during removal of personal protective equipment

“…Gloves and scrubs were assayed as described previously. 13 Items were immersed in 0.5-2 L of 1.5% beef extract (pH 7.5) and agitated on a shaker for 20 minutes. Eluent from hands, face, and PPE was assayed by a most probable number (MPN) enrichment infectivity assay.…”

Assessing Viral Transfer During Doffing of Ebola-Level Personal Protective Equipment in a Biocontainment Unit

“…Scrubs were collected for sampling by complete immersion in eluent after removal [16]. Samples were placed on ice and immediately transported back to the laboratory for analysis using previously described methods [21]. High-touch surfaces in the patient room and doffing area were examined under ultraviolet light for the presence of fluorescent tracer, including door handles, toilet handles, and bedrails.…”