Efficacy of surface disinfection using E. coli and the Ebola surrogate Phi6

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In the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak, international organizations provided conflicting recommendations for disinfecting surfaces contaminated by uncontrolled patient spills. We compared the efficacy of four chlorine solutions (sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, high ­test hypochlorite, and generated hypochlorite) for disinfection of three surface types (stainless steel, heavy duty tarp, and nitrile), with and without pre­cleaning practices (pre­wiping and/or covering) and soil load. The test organisms were E. coli and the Ebola surrogate Phi6. All tests achieved a minimum of 5.9­ and 3.1­log removal in E. coli and Phi6, respectively. A 15­-minute exposure to 0.5% chlorine was sufficient to ensure less than 8 Phi6 PFU/cm2 in all tests. While chlorine types were equally efficacious with and without soil load, variation was seen by surface type. Wiping did not increase disinfection efficacy, and is not recommended as it generates infectious waste. Covering spills decreased disinfection efficacy against E. coli on heavy ­duty tarp but does prevent splashing, which is critical in Ebola contexts. Our results support the recommendation of a 15-minute exposure to 0.5% chlorine, independently of chlorine type, surface, pre­-cleaning practices, and organic matter, as an efficacious measure to interrupt disease transmission from uncontrolled spills in Ebola outbreaks.

Resources

Name Format Description Link
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/6qq5-2jwd
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/9btc-4i7d
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/25ct-yrbs
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/ygp8-z2fg
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/2ybw-tzw3
21 https://data.usaid.gov/d/8sn7-5kjg

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  • ebola-surface-disinfection-chlorine-e-coli-phi6

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