SARS-CoV-2 decontamination of skin with disinfectants active during and after application

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in high levels of exposure of medical workers to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Hand decontamination is one of the actions recommended to reduce the risk of infection.

Aim: Two disinfectants - BIAKŌS antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser (AWC) and AWC2 (Sanara MedTech, Fort Worth, TX, USA) - were tested to determine whether they can inactivate SARS-CoV-2 upon contact or as a coating applied before contact with the virus.

Methods: The ability of AWC and AWC2 to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 was tested in liquid and dried form on plastic surfaces and porcine skin.

Findings: AWC and AWC2 were effective in reducing the infectious titre of SARS-CoV-2 in liquid form during application and in dried form 4 h after application. Virus on skin was reduced up to 2 log₁₀-fold and 3.5 log₁₀-fold after treatment with AWC and AWC2, respectively.

Conclusion: Application of AWC and AWC2 to skin reduces the level of SARS-CoV-2 and the risk of infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; Disinfection; SARS-CoV-2; Skin.

Figure 1

Liquid BIAKŌS antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser (AWC) and AWC2 have disinfectant effects against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). (A) SARS-CoV-2 titres were reduced after contact with liquid AWC or AWC2. The virus was added to liquid AWC or AWC2 in a 1:10 ratio and the mixture was titrated. (B) AWC and AWC2 disinfected SARS-CoV-2 from skin. SARS-CoV-2 was added to porcine skin and an equal volume of disinfectant was added. Error bars indicate standard deviations. One-way analysis of variance with Sidak's multiple comparison test was used to assess significance. ∗∗∗∗P<0.001. LOD, limit of detection; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PFU, plaque-forming units.

Figure 2

Dried BIAKŌS antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser (AWC) and AWC2 have disinfectant effects against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). (A) Dried AWC and AWC2 disinfected SARS-CoV-2 on a polystyrene surface. AWC and AWC2 were allowed to dry on the bottom of a 96-well plate and then put in contact with virus. (B) Dried AWC and AWC2 on porcine skin disinfected against SARS-CoV-2. Porcine skins were dipped in AWC or AWC2, allowed to dry and then virus was added. Error bars indicate standard deviations. One-way analysis of variance with Sidak's multiple comparison test was used to assess significance. ∗P≤0.05; ∗∗P≤0.01; ∗∗∗∗P≤0.0001. LOD, limit of detection; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; PFU, plaque-forming units.

Figure S1

Serial dilutions of BIAKŌS antimicrobial skin and wound cleanser (AWC) and AWC2 neutralize the antiviral activity of these disinfectants prior to infection of cell monolayers. AWC and AWC2 were diluted in Dulbecco's minimal essential media to the indicated concentration and incubated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. One-way analysis of variance with Sidak's multiple comparison test was used to assess significance. ∗P≤0.05. LOD, limit of detection; PBS, phosphate-buffered serum; PFU, plaque-forming units.