Wipes Coated with a Singlet-Oxygen-Producing Photosensitizer Are Effective against Human Influenza Virus but Not against Norovirus

Abstract

bTransmission of enteric and respiratory viruses, including human norovirus (hNoV) and human influenza virus, may involve surfaces. In food preparation and health care settings, surfaces are cleaned with wipes; however, wiping may not efficiently reduce contamination or may even spread viruses, increasing a potential public health risk. The virucidal properties of wipes with a singlet-oxygen-generating immobilized photosensitizer (IPS) coating were compared to those of similar but uncoated wipes (non-IPS) and of commonly used viscose wipes. Wipes were spiked with hNoV GI.4 and GII.4, murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), human adenovirus type 5 (hAdV-5), and influenza virus H1N1 to study viral persistence. We also determined residual and transferred virus proportions on steel carriers after successively wiping a contaminated and an uncontaminated steel carrier. On IPS wipes only, influenza viruses were promptly inactivated with a 5-log 10 reduction. D values of infectious MNV-1 and hAdV-5 were 8.7 and 7.0 h on IPS wipes, 11.6 and 9.3 h on non-IPS wipes, and 10.2 and 8.2 h on viscose wipes, respectively. Independently of the type of wipe, dry cleaning removed, or drastically reduced, initial spot contamination of hNoV on surfaces. All wipes transferred hNoV to an uncontaminated carrier; however, the risk of continued transmission by reuse of wipes after 6 and 24 h was limited for all viruses. We conclude that cleaning wet spots with dry wipes efficiently reduced spot contamination on surfaces but that cross-contamination with noroviruses by wiping may result in an increased public health risk at high initial virus loads. For influenza virus, IPS wipes present an efficient one-step procedure for cleaning and disinfecting contaminated surfaces.

Coronavirus Persistence on a Plastic Carrier Under Refrigeration Conditions and Its Reduction Using Wet Wiping Technique, with Respect to Food Safety

“…Hygienic wipes containing 16.5% ethanol (Table 1 ) gave the same results as wet wipes. Wiping is a short duration activity and the virucidal effect of disinfectant is required within seconds (Verhaelen et al 2014 ). Ethanol is widely assumed to be very effective against coronaviruses, especially at concentrations of around 70% with a contact time of 30 s or longer (Geller et al 2012 ).…”

Antimicrobial Nanomaterials and Coatings: Current Mechanisms and Future Perspectives to Control the Spread of Viruses Including SARS-CoV-2

“…However, residual amounts (0.2–0.6% residual virus proportions) of norovirus were found on the steel surfaces. 97 Notably, in this case, no difference was found between the treated and untreated wipes. They further tested the already used wipes (used on steel surfaces) on a secondary steel surface to investigate cross-contamination and revealed that non-enveloped viruses demonstrated cross-contamination.…”

“… 96 In another study, wipes with polypropylene fibers were coated with the photosensitizer rose bengal, which is immobilized on the fibers through multiple amide bonds and produces singlet oxygen during exposure to visible light. 97 Wipes were spiked with various viruses including the human norovirus GI.4 and GII.4, murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1), human adenovirus type 5 (hAdV-5), and influenza virus H1N1. The non-enveloped viruses did not exhibit prompt inactivation, with the time needed for the first 1-log reduction being more than 7 h, whereas enveloped viruses showed immediate and complete inactivation (more than 4-log).…”

“…The non-enveloped viruses did not exhibit prompt inactivation, with the time needed for the first 1-log reduction being more than 7 h, whereas enveloped viruses showed immediate and complete inactivation (more than 4-log). 97 Furthermore, the transfer and persistence of viruses from a steel surface were tested after being wiped with the treated and untreated wipes, and the proportion of viruses recovered from the wiped surface to the unwiped one through viral genome quantification was reported. For MNV-1 and influenza virus, no viruses were discovered after wiping the contaminated steel surfaces.…”

“… 107 Furthermore, photosensitizer materials such as rose bengal, which have been implemented in wipes, have also shown no toxic effect on mammalian cells. 97 …”