SARS-CoV, influenza A and syncitial respiratory virus resistance against common disinfectants and ultraviolet irradiation

To evaluate the virucidal efficacy of six commonly used chemical disinfectants, and ultraviolet radiation (U.V.) against SARS-CoV and compare it to the resistance of other airborne viruses, such as Influenza and Respiratory Sincytial Virus, a salt solution containing a standard concentration of cell-grown viruses, was mixed with a larger volume of different disinfectants at their use dilution and the mixtures were held for a defined contact time. The virucidal efficacy of disinfectants and U.V. was evaluated by infectivity, detected by inoculation of samples in suitable cell culture and genome integrity, detected by nested RT-PCR. SARS-CoV as well as RSV seem to be sensible to the different disinfectants tested in our study and U.V. radiation, while influenza virus appear to be more resistant in particular to the action of chlorhexidine digluconate and benzalkonium-chloride. In consideration of the possible infectious role of SARS-CoV RNA, sodium hypochlorite 0.1% appear to be the more efficacious disinfectant for surfaces and hands potentially contaminated with respiratory viruses and SARS-CoV.