Ozone inactivation of airborne influenza and lack of resistance of respiratory syncytial virus to aerosolization and sampling processes.

Marie-Eve Dubuis,Jonathan M Vyskocil,Guy Boivin,Nathalie Grandvaux,Nathalie Turgeon,Christophe Tremblay,Espérance Mukawera,Étienne Racine,Caroline Duchaine,Sander Herfst

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0253022

Abstract

Influenza and RSV are human viruses responsible for outbreaks in hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes. The present study assessed an air treatment using ozone at two relative humidity conditions (RHs) in order to reduce the infectivity of airborne influenza. Bovine pulmonary surfactant (BPS) and synthetic tracheal mucus (STM) were used as aerosols protectants to better reflect the human aerosol composition. Residual ozone concentration inside the aerosol chamber was also measured. RSV's sensitivity resulted in testing its resistance to aerosolization and sampling processes instead of ozone exposure. The results showed that without supplement and with STM, a reduction in influenza A infectivity of four orders of magnitude was obtained with an exposure to 1.70 ± 0.19 ppm of ozone at 76% RH for 80 min. Consequently, ozone could be considered as a virucidal disinfectant for airborne influenza A. RSV did not withstand the aerosolization and sampling processes required for the use of the experimental setup. Therefore, ozone exposure could not be performed for this virus. Nonetheless, this study provides great insight for the efficacy of ozone as an air treatment for the control of nosocomial influenza A outbreaks.

Highlights

Viral outbreaks, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are a major concern for hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes [1,2,3]
In order to better reflect aerosols produced by infected people, which can contain surfactants and proteins, the nebulizing liquid was supplemented with Bovine pulmonary surfactant (BPS) and synthetic tracheal mucus (STM) for experimentation
Ozone inactivation of airborne influenza and lack of resistance of respiratory syncytial virus in a reduction in infectivity of four orders of magnitude was the exposure to 1.70 ± 0.19 ppm of ozone at 76% relative humidity conditions (RHs) for 80 min, and was effective for both the STMT and the NT, indicating that ozone could be qualified as a virucidal disinfectant

Summary

Introduction

Viral outbreaks, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), are a major concern for hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes [1,2,3]. Seasonal outbreaks of influenza occur annually and the threat of a pandemic is always present [4, 5]. The risk of developing complications from an influenza infection is greater for young children, pregnant women, adults that are 65 years and older, and people suffering. Ozone inactivation of airborne influenza and lack of resistance of respiratory syncytial virus

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