Soap, water, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): an ancient handwashing strategy for preventing dissemination of a novel virus.

M Khalid Ijaz,Joseph R Rubino,Raymond W Nims,Sarah De Szalay

doi:10.7717/peerj.12041

Abstract

Public Health Agencies worldwide (World Health Organization, United States Centers for Disease Prevention & Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, etc.) are recommending hand washing with soap and water for preventing the dissemination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. In this review, we have discussed the mechanisms of decontamination by soap and water (involving both removal and inactivation), described the contribution of the various components of formulated soaps to performance as cleansers and to pathogen inactivation, explained why adherence to recommended contact times is critical, evaluated the possible contribution of water temperature to inactivation, discussed the advantages of antimicrobial soaps vs. basic soaps, discussed the differences between use of soap and water vs. alcohol-based hand sanitizers for hand decontamination, and evaluated the limitations and advantages of different methods of drying hands following washing. While the paper emphasizes data applicable to SARS-CoV-2, the topics discussed are germane to most emerging and re-emerging enveloped and non-enveloped viruses and many other pathogen types.

Highlights

Personal hand hygiene, and hygiene in general, have played an integral role in several religious and cultural norms within different societies for centuries
During a pandemic associated with an extremely contagious respiratory virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, the routes of infection spread can be visualized as a cycle from infected persons to non-infected persons directly through contaminated droplets suspended in the air and/or contaminated high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) and hands directly or indirectly (Fig. 1)
We have attempted in this article to provide evidence for the unique utility of the relatively ancient practice of hand washing with soap and water for infection prevention and control during the current SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pandemic

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Hygiene in general, have played an integral role in several religious and cultural norms within different societies for centuries. The interventional role of hygiene agents in disrupting the chain of infection of pathogens is well established (World Health Organization, 2009; Alum, Rubino & Ijaz, 2010; Stephens et al, 2019; Scott et al, 2020; Scott, Bruning & Ijaz, 2021). Many infectious agents, including both respiratory and enteric viruses, as well as a variety of non-viral pathogens, are spread by contaminated hands (World Health Organization, 2009). Non-compliance with hygiene practices predisposes healthcare workers to the dissemination of nosocomial infections This is an important lesson, well known in the infection prevention and control community, but perhaps only more recently by the public-at-large. During a pandemic associated with an extremely contagious respiratory (and possibly enteric) virus, such as SARS-CoV-2, the routes of infection spread can be visualized as a cycle from infected persons to non-infected persons directly through contaminated droplets suspended in the air and/or contaminated high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) and hands directly or indirectly (Fig. 1)

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

Findings

DISCUSSION