Antimicrobial surfaces and coatings have been available for many decades and have largely been designed to kill or prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi. Antiviral coatings have become of particular interest more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic as they are designed to act as continuously active disinfectants. The most studied antiviral coatings have been metal-based or are comprised of silane quaternary ammonium formulations. Copper and silver interact directly with proteins and nucleic acids, and influence the production of reactive free radicals. Titanium dioxide acts as a photocatalyst in the presence of water and oxygen to produce free radicals in the presence of UV light or visible light when alloyed with copper or silver. Silane quaternary ammonium formulations can be applied to surfaces using sprays or wipes, and are particularly effective against enveloped viruses. Continuously active disinfectants offer an extra barrier against fomite-mediated transmission of respiratory and enteric viruses to reduce exposure between routine disinfection and cleaning events. To take advantage of this technology, testing methods need to be standardized and the benefits quantified in terms of reduction of virus transmission.
Part of the book: Disinfection of Viruses
The World Health Organization has updated its list of priority diseases for 2021 to currently include the following: Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease (Filoviridae), Nipah and henipaviral diseases (Paramyxoviridae), Lassa fever (Arenaviridae), Rift Valley fever and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (Bunyaviridae), Zika (Flaviviridae), COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) including Delta, Omicron, and other variants of concern, Middle East respiratory syndrome, severe acute respiratory syndrome (Coronaviridae), and the always present “disease X,” which is a term used for the next emerging pathogen of concern that is not known about today. In this chapter, we review the virucidal efficacy data for microbicides (disinfectants and antiseptics, also known as surface and hand hygiene agents or collectively hygiene agents) for the viruses associated with these diseases. As these diseases are each caused by lipid-enveloped viruses, the susceptibilities of the viruses to virucidal agents are informed by the known hierarchy of susceptibility of pathogens to microbicides. The unique susceptibility of lipid-enveloped viruses to most classes of microbicides is based on the common mechanism of action of envelope-disrupting microbicides. Empirical data supporting this principle and the mitigational role of targeted hygiene in infection prevention and control (IPAC) discussed are presented.
Part of the book: Disinfection of Viruses