Inactivation of a rotavirus by disinfectants

Rotavirus SA 11, clarified and in human faeces, was exposed to eight commonly used hospital and laboratory disinfectants for periods between 15 seconds and two hours. Of the three hard disinfectants tested, 0.95 by volume (95% v/v) ethanol and 0.05 by volume (5% v/v) Biogram were more effective in inactivating SA 11 than 4% (w/v) or 10% (w/v) formaldehyde, with 0.95 by volume ethanol being the most effective of all of the disinfectants tested. None of the skin disinfectants tested, Betadine, Hexol, Hibiclens and Hibitane in alcohol, were very effective against the rotavirus in the presence of faeces, although Hexol and Hibitane in alcohol inactivated clarified SA 11 fairly quickly. Because of its rapidity of action against SA 11, even in the presence of faeces, and relatively non-deleterious effect on the skin, 0.95 by volume ethanol may be more useful as a handwash than these skin preparations. Undiluted Milton Antibacterial Solution gave very variable results, while the same solution diluted 1 in 80 had little effect on clarified SA 11.