Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply influenced sanitization procedures, and high-level disinfection has been massively used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 spread, with potential negative impact on the environment and on the threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Aiming to overcome these concerns, yet preserving the effectiveness of sanitization against enveloped viruses, we assessed the antiviral properties of the Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System (PCHS), an eco-sustainable probiotic-based detergent previously proven to stably abate pathogen contamination and AMR. PCHS (diluted 1:10, 1:50 and 1:100) was tested in comparison to common disinfectants (70% ethanol and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite), in suspension and carrier tests, according with the European UNI EN 14476:2019 and UNI EN 16777:2019 standards. Human alpha- and beta-coronaviruses hCoV-229E and SARS-CoV-2, human herpesvirus type 1, human and animal influenza viruses, and vaccinia virus were included in the study. The results showed that PCHS was able to inactivate 99.99% of all tested viruses within 1–2 h of contact, both in suspension and on surface. Notably, while control disinfectants became inactive within 2 h after application, the PCHS antiviral action persisted up to 24 h post-application, suggesting that its use may effectively allow a continuous prevention of virus spread via contaminated environment, without worsening environmental pollution and AMR concern.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus has deeply influenced the habits relative to hygiene and sanitization, shining light on the risk associated with environmental virus contamination, especially in the hospital environment
While control disinfectants became inactive within 2 h after application, the Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System (PCHS) antiviral action persisted up to 24 h postapplication, suggesting that its use may effectively allow a continuous prevention of virus spread via contaminated environment, without worsening environmental pollution and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) concern
The massive use of disinfectants could negatively impact on urban environments and wildlife [20], as well as aquatic ecosystems [21], and several chemical compounds used for disinfection have been proven to select or induce antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in pathogens, including those known to have an important impact on COVID-19 clinical care [22,23,24,25]
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 human coronavirus has deeply influenced the habits relative to hygiene and sanitization, shining light on the risk associated with environmental virus contamination, especially in the hospital environment. Fomite transmission is difficult to prove definitively [10], a few cases have been reported [11,12] and infection risk has been evaluated linked to possible hand-to-fomite transmission [8,13,14]. With these data, WHO has proposed preventive measures, and high-level virucidal chemical disinfectants have been mandatorily introduced by regulatory bodies for surface cleaning of indoor environments, including healthcare and non-healthcare settings, as interim recommendations to combat the COVID-19 health emergency [10,15]. There is an urgent need for simple, efficient, low-impact, and possibly low-cost procedures to ensure a durable sanitization of treated surfaces, overcoming the side effects linked to chemical disinfection
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
