Virucidal Efficacy of Different Oral Rinses Against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Abstract

The ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic creates a significant threat to global health. Recent studies suggested the significance of throat and salivary glands as major sites of virus replication and transmission during early coronavirus disease 2019, thus advocating application of oral antiseptics. However, the antiviral efficacy of oral rinsing solutions against SARS-CoV-2 has not been examined. Here, we evaluated the virucidal activity of different available oral rinses against SARS-CoV-2 under conditions mimicking nasopharyngeal secretions. Several formulations with significant SARS-CoV-2 inactivating properties in vitro support the idea that oral rinsing might reduce the viral load of saliva and could thus lower the transmission of SARS-CoV-2.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; inactivation; oral rinses; suspension test; transmission.

Figure 1.

Virucidal activity of oral rinses against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 strains 1 (dot; UKEssen), 2 (square; BetaCoV/Germany/Ulm/01/2020), and 3 (triangle; BetaCoV/Germany/Ulm/02/2020) were incubated with medium (control) or various oral rinses for 30 seconds. Both conditions were supplemented with an interfering substance mimicking respiratory secretions. Viral titers were determined upon titration on Vero E6 cells. The cytotoxic effect was monitored using noninfected cells incubated with the different products, defined as the lower limit of quantification (LLOQ). The 50% tissue culture infectious dose (TCID₅₀/mL) was calculated according to Spearman–Kärber. Data indicate averages and standard deviation of 3 independent experiments.