Role of virucides in controlling virus dissemination by fabrics.

Abstract

AbstractVaccinia virus, a lipophilic agent containing deoxyribonucleic acid, and poliovirus, a hydrophilic ribonucleic acid virus, persisted on wool and cotton fabrics for varying periods up to 20 weeks, which was of sufficient duration to be of epidemiological significance. The length of persistence of each virus varied with the type of fabric, humidity and method of exposure to the virus. A group of quaternary ammonium salts and bromosalicylanilides were evaluated quantitatively for virucidal activity against these viruses in a cell culture system. None of the compounds was active against poliovirus, but three of the quaternary ammonium compounds significantly inactivated vaccinia virus. Impregnation of wool and cotton fabrics with one of these compounds resulted in a marked decrease in vaccinia virus persistence. Both polio and vaccinia viruses persisted for less than five days on a cotton fabric finished with a modified triazone resin to impart a wash‐and‐wear property. Cotton fabric contaminated with vaccinia or with poliovirus was laundered with an anionic detergent and a nonionic detergent. This laundering reduced but did not eliminate the virus. Sterile fabric was contaminated with virus when laundered with the virus‐containing fabrics. Drying the fabrics for 20 hr after laundering reduced the virus titers to below detectable limits.