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Biocides and Novel Antimicrobial Agents for the Mitigation of Coronaviruses

Govindaraj Dev Kumar1, Abhinav Mishra2, Laurel Dunn2

  • 1Center for Food Safety, The University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, United States.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|July 14, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This review details biocides effective against SARS-CoV-2 for the food industry. It covers alcohols, disinfectants, and UV light, noting varying effectiveness against different coronavirus strains.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 necessitated rapid identification of effective disinfection strategies.
  • SARS-CoV-2, responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, shares genetic similarities with SARS-CoV-1, highlighting the importance of broad-spectrum coronavirus control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review biocidal agents effective against coronaviruses, focusing on applications relevant to the food industry.
  • To inform food processors about disinfectants for fomites, surfaces, skin, and air to mitigate SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of antimicrobial agents and their efficacy against coronaviruses.
  • Focus on EPA-approved sanitizers commonly used in food processing.
  • Analysis of disinfectant properties including alcohols, povidone iodine, quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acid, chlorine dioxide, ozone, UV light, metals, and plant-based antimicrobials.

Main Results:

  • Various biocides demonstrate efficacy in reducing or eliminating coronaviruses.
  • Differences in susceptibility among coronavirus strains to specific antimicrobial agents were observed.
  • Commonly available disinfectants show promise for food industry applications against SARS-CoV-2.

Conclusions:

  • Effective disinfection protocols are crucial for the food industry to manage SARS-CoV-2.
  • Understanding the differential efficacy of biocides against various coronaviruses is essential for targeted application.
  • Continued research and application of validated disinfectants support public health and food safety.

Keywords:
COVID-19SARS-CoV-2antimicrobialbiocidecoronavirusdisinfectionmitigation

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