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. 2021 Dec 14:9:783832.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.783832. eCollection 2021.

Essential Oil Disinfectant Efficacy Against SARS-CoV-2 Microbial Surrogates

Emily S Bailey  1 , Marina Curcic  1 , Jnev Biros  2 , Hüseyin Erdogmuş  3 , Nurcan Bac  2 , Albert Sacco Jr  2
Affiliations

Essential Oil Disinfectant Efficacy Against SARS-CoV-2 Microbial Surrogates

Emily S Bailey et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Reports of COVID-19 cases potentially attributed to fomite transmission led to the extensive use of various disinfectants to control viral spread. Alternative disinfectants, such as essential oils, have emerged as a potential antimicrobial. Four essential oil blends were tested on three different surfaces inoculated with a coronavirus surrogate, bacteriophage Phi 6, and a bacterial indicator, Staphylococcus aureus. Log10 concentration reductions were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software. Data collected in this study show that the application of dilute essential oil disinfectants using a spray delivery device is an effective way to reduce concentrations of bacterial and viral microorganisms on ceramic, stainless steel, and laminate surfaces. Surrogate viruses were reduced up to 6 log10 PFU and bacterial were reduced up to 4 log10 CFU. Although surfaces are no longer considered a high risk fomite for COVID-19 transmission, the disinfection of microorganisms on surfaces remains an important consideration for high touch areas in hospitals, waiting rooms, etc. The application of spray disinfectants, based on essential oil blends, provides a rapid and effective means to reduce microbial contamination on high-touched surfaces.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; essential oil; surface; surrogate.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Graphical Abstract
Graphical Abstract
Figure 1
Figure 1
Log10 reductions of bacteriophage phi 6 by disinfectant and surface type.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Log10 reductions of S. aureus by disinfectant and surface type.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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