Efficacy of Antimicrobials Against Enveloped and Non-Enveloped Viruses on Porous Materials: A Review

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Infection control
• Materials science

Background:

• Fomites are key in viral transmission, yet research often overlooks porous materials.
• Understanding viral behavior on reusable porous surfaces is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify factors influencing viral viability on reusable porous materials.
• To evaluate the efficacy of various antimicrobials against viruses on these surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of existing studies on viral persistence and disinfection on porous materials.
• Analysis of factors affecting viral viability (e.g., viral properties, environmental conditions, material characteristics).
• Assessment of disinfectant effectiveness (e.g., UV, steam, chlorine, quaternary ammonium compounds, alcohols, glutaraldehyde, silver, peroxides).

Main Results:

• Viral persistence is influenced by viral envelope status, subtype, material type, temperature, humidity, and deposition methods.
• Chlorine and steam demonstrated the highest efficacy in viral disinfection.
• Glutaraldehyde and peroxides showed limited effectiveness, particularly against non-enveloped viruses.

Conclusions:

• Multiple factors govern viral persistence and disinfection on porous materials, necessitating comprehensive infection control strategies.
• Standardized testing methods and long-term material integrity studies are essential for future research.