INACTIVATION OF RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS BY DETERGENTS AND DISINFECTANTS

The activity of a number of detergents and disinfectants against respi ratory syncytial virus (RSV) was evaluated in an in vitro assay system . Equal volumes of RSV and serial 10-fold dilutions of the test agents were mixed at 4-degrees-C for 5 minutes. The RSV titer in each mixtur e was compared with that of untreated RSV alone. In 14 experiments wit h input RSV titers ranging from 2.6 x 10(3) to 2 x 10(7) plaque-formin g units/ml, a 10-fold dilution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite (generic b leach) inactivated (greater-than-or-equal-to 3-log reduction in titer) the virus. With lower RSV titers inactivation was also observed at a 100-fold dilution of bleach. Fetal calf serum concentrations up to 50% as an organic load did not diminish the bleach effect. The degree of RSV inactivation was also defined for Lysol(R), povidone-iodine, Amphy l(R), Hibiclens(R), Osyl(R), ethanol and Listermint(R). The short cont act time, the reproducible nature of the findings and the continued ef fectiveness with increasing organic loads all suggest that detergents and disinfectants can potentially play an important role in decreasing the spread of RSV infection.