Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing

Summary: Viruses pose a wide-ranging and significant risk to human health through acute and persistent infections that may confer risks for sequelae including musculoskeletal, immunological, and oncological disease. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) remains a highly effective, generic, global,...

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Main Authors: Syed A. Sattar, Bahram Zargar, Jason Tetro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:Infection Prevention in Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000593
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author Syed A. Sattar
Bahram Zargar
Jason Tetro
author_facet Syed A. Sattar
Bahram Zargar
Jason Tetro
author_sort Syed A. Sattar
collection DOAJ
description Summary: Viruses pose a wide-ranging and significant risk to human health through acute and persistent infections that may confer risks for sequelae including musculoskeletal, immunological, and oncological disease. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) remains a highly effective, generic, global, and cost-effective means to mitigate virus spread. IPAC recommends proper disinfection of high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) to reduce the risk of direct and indirect virus spread. The United States, Canada and many other countries mandate pre-market assessments of HITES disinfectants against viruses and other types of microbial pathogens. However, there are basic disparities in the regulation of disinfectants. Such incongruity in test protocols interferes with the determination of the true breadth of the microbicidal potential of a given product in the field where target pathogens are often unknown or may be encountered as mixtures. This review examines the various methodological disparities and recommends a more cohesive and harmonized approach. While there is particular emphasis on viruses here, an overall harmonization in microbicide testing of HITES disinfectants will greatly assist the numerous stakeholders involved in IPAC.
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spelling doaj-art-bf6b313285ce4d0caae5f07d465a4f7a2025-08-20T02:48:51ZengElsevierInfection Prevention in Practice2590-08892024-12-016410039510.1016/j.infpip.2024.100395Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testingSyed A. Sattar0Bahram Zargar1Jason Tetro2Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada; CREM Co Labs, Mississauga, ON, Canada; Corresponding author.CREM Co Labs, Mississauga, ON, CanadaInfection Prevention and Control Consultant, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaSummary: Viruses pose a wide-ranging and significant risk to human health through acute and persistent infections that may confer risks for sequelae including musculoskeletal, immunological, and oncological disease. Infection prevention and control (IPAC) remains a highly effective, generic, global, and cost-effective means to mitigate virus spread. IPAC recommends proper disinfection of high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) to reduce the risk of direct and indirect virus spread. The United States, Canada and many other countries mandate pre-market assessments of HITES disinfectants against viruses and other types of microbial pathogens. However, there are basic disparities in the regulation of disinfectants. Such incongruity in test protocols interferes with the determination of the true breadth of the microbicidal potential of a given product in the field where target pathogens are often unknown or may be encountered as mixtures. This review examines the various methodological disparities and recommends a more cohesive and harmonized approach. While there is particular emphasis on viruses here, an overall harmonization in microbicide testing of HITES disinfectants will greatly assist the numerous stakeholders involved in IPAC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000593DisinfectionVirucidesMicrobicidesCarrier testsWipingHarmonization
spellingShingle Syed A. Sattar
Bahram Zargar
Jason Tetro
Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
Infection Prevention in Practice
Disinfection
Virucides
Microbicides
Carrier tests
Wiping
Harmonization
title Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
title_full Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
title_fullStr Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
title_full_unstemmed Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
title_short Methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses: the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
title_sort methods to assess environmental surface disinfectants against viruses the quest and recommendations for a globally harmonized approach to microbicide testing
topic Disinfection
Virucides
Microbicides
Carrier tests
Wiping
Harmonization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590088924000593
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AT jasontetro methodstoassessenvironmentalsurfacedisinfectantsagainstvirusesthequestandrecommendationsforagloballyharmonizedapproachtomicrobicidetesting