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Cold oxygen plasma technology efficiency against different airborne respiratory viruses
Background:
Respiratory infections caused by viruses are major causes of upper and lower respiratory tract infections. They account for an important mortality and morbidity worldwide. Amongst these viruses, influenza viruses and paramyxoviruses are major pathogens. Their transmission is mainly airborne, by direct transmission through droplets from infected cases.
Objectives:
In the context of an influenza pandemic, as well as for the reduction of nosocomial infections, systems that can reduce or control virus transmission will reduce the burden of this disease. It may also be part of the strategy for pandemic mitigation.
Study Design:
A new system based on physical decontamination of surface and air has been developed. This process generates cold oxygen plasma (COP) by subjecting air to high-energy deep-UV light. To test its efficiency, we have developed an experimental device to assess for the decontamination of nebulized respiratory viruses. High titer suspensions of influenza virus type A, human parainfluenza virus type 3 and RSV have been tested.
Results:
Different experimental conditions have been evaluated against these viruses. The use of COP with an internal device allowed the best results against all viruses tested. We recorded a reduction of 6.5, 3.8 and 4 log(10) TCID50/mL of the titre of the hPIV-3, RSV and influenza virus A (H5N2) suspensions.
Conclusions:
The COP technology is an efficient and innovative strategy to control airborne virus dissemination. It could successfully control nosocomial diffusion of respiratory viruses in hospital setting, and could be useful for the reduction of influenza transmission in the various consultation settings implemented for the management of cases during a pandemic.
Insights
Cold oxygen plasma (COP) effectively decontaminates airborne respiratory viruses like influenza and RSV. This innovative technology offers a promising strategy for reducing virus transmission in healthcare settings and during pandemics.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Plasma Physics
Background:
- Respiratory viruses, including influenza and paramyxoviruses, cause significant global morbidity and mortality.
- Airborne transmission via droplets is the primary route for these infections.
- Controlling virus transmission is crucial for mitigating pandemics and reducing healthcare-associated infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a novel cold oxygen plasma (COP) system for its efficacy in decontaminating airborne respiratory viruses.
- To assess the potential of COP technology in controlling virus dissemination in clinical and pandemic scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Development of an experimental device utilizing cold oxygen plasma (COP) generated by deep-UV light exposure to air.
- Testing the COP system's decontamination efficiency against nebulized suspensions of influenza virus A, human parainfluenza virus type 3 (hPIV-3), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Main Results:
- The COP system demonstrated significant efficacy in reducing viral titers.
- Reductions of 6.5, 3.8, and 4 log(10) TCID50/mL were recorded for hPIV-3, RSV, and influenza virus A (H5N2), respectively.
- Optimized experimental conditions using COP with an internal device yielded the best results across all tested viruses.
Conclusions:
- Cold oxygen plasma (COP) technology presents an efficient and innovative approach to control airborne virus dissemination.
- COP systems show potential for controlling the nosocomial spread of respiratory viruses in hospitals.
- This technology could be valuable in reducing influenza transmission during pandemic management in various healthcare settings.
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