Abstract
Not only since SARS-CoV-2, have transmission routes of viruses been of interest. Noroviruses e.g., can be transmitted via smear infection, are relatively stable in the environment and very resistant to chemical disinfection. Some studies determined the virucidal efficacy of laundering processes, but few studies focused on the virucidal efficacy of dishwashing processes. Here, especially consumer related conditions are of interest. Households for example are a hotspot of norovirus infection and thus a sufficient reduction of these and other viruses from dishes must be insured to avoid an infection via this route. The likelihood of such an event should not be underestimated, since it was shown that the washing machine can be a reservoir for the transmission of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing bacteria in newborns. Although viruses do not replicate in these devices a transmission via contaminated cutlery e.g., cannot be excluded. Using a consumer related approach to determine the virucidal efficacy of dishwashers, we found a combination of a bleach containing dishwasher detergent, a cleaning temperature of 45 °C for 45 min and a rinsing temperature of 50 °C, to be sufficient to reduces viral titer of bovine corona virus, murine norovirus and modified vaccinia virus by 4.8, 4.2 and 3.8 logarithmic stages respectively.
Highlights
The persistence of viruses in the environment and their resistance to biocidal methods depends on their morphology and in general non-enveloped viruses are more stable than enveloped viruses
There are some studies on the virucidal efficacy of laundering processes and Heinzel et al [6] found a logarithmic reduction of >4 at 40 ◦ C, using a standard laundry detergent for Poliovirus in situ, only few studies [7,8] focused on the virucidal efficacy of dishwashing processes
For validation purposes the temperature profile of each dishwasher run was recorded in duplicate determination
Summary
The persistence of viruses in the environment and their resistance to biocidal methods depends on their morphology and in general non-enveloped viruses are more stable than enveloped viruses. While respiratory viruses like SARS-CoV-2 spread mainly via person to person contact by droplet and aerosol transmission [1], human noroviruses that can cause severe diarrhea are transmitted primarily through the fecal-oral route, either by direct person-toperson spread or fecally contaminated food or water [2]. For noroviruses the transmission through contaminated surfaces via smear infection is possible. Noroviruses, as well as enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can be relatively stable in the environment and can survive on surfaces for days, viral titer decrease over time by several logarithmic stages [3,4]. Noroviruses are known to be very resistant to chemical disinfection [5]
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