COVID-19. Hydro-alcoholic hand disinfectants. How to sanitize surfaces, bathrooms, fabrics
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COVID-19. The evolution of scientific research on the new coronavirus leads to further reflections on the use of hydro-alcoholic disinfectants - compared to water and soap - to disinfect hands. Other indications from the European Research Center ECDC on how to sanitize surfaces, bathrooms, fabrics.
The importance of soap in hand washing
Thordarson balls, professor of University of New South Wales School of Chemistry, on 8.3.20 on Twitter explains the importance of washing hands thoroughly with soap and water. (1)
'The virus it is held together by a combination of hydrogen bonds (such as those found in water) and what we call hydrophilic or 'fatty' interactions. Skin is the ideal surface for a virus. It is organic, and the proteins and fatty acids of dead cells on its surface interact with the virus through both hydrogen bonds and fatty hydrophilic interactions.
The soap contains fat-like substances (known as amphiphiles), some of which have structures very similar to the lipids of the virus membrane. The soap molecules "compete" with the lipids in the virus membrane, as well as with many other non-covalent bonds that help proteins, RNA and lipids to stick together. The soap actually dissolves the glue that holds the virus together. ' (Palli Thordarson).
The advantage of alcohol solutions
Matthew Guidotti - PhD - researcher at CNR and ISTM, Institute of Molecular Sciences and Technologies - however, suggests a more prudential approach. Highlighting the advantage of alcoholic solutions for a correct disinfection of the hands, in the light of the scientific studies published so far on SARS-CoV-2.
'The use of soap Convention has been recommended by the WHO since the beginning of the pandemic. The soap acts mainly through a mechanical and electrostatic removal mechanism.
Soaps are very useful for hand washing. And yet, as anionic surfactants - like any soap - they are not able to degrade this type of virus in a minute by simple contact.
Scientific studies published starting from February 2020 highlight the need for 70% alcoholic solutions of ethanol or isopropanol to degrade the pathogen, or sodium hypochlorite, or hydrogen peroxide. ' (2)
Sanitation, the advice of ECDC
Lo European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has published a guide document on the sanitation of environments, in the health and non-health sectors, during the COVID-19 pandemic. (3)
Alcohol-based disinfectants (ethanol, propan-2-ol, propan1-ol) significantly reduce the infectivity of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 - in concentrations of 70-80% - in one minute of exposure (4,5).
Sanitizing of surfaces, bathrooms and fabrics. ECDC recommendations
The European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC) also provides a table with some recommendations on the sanitization of surfaces, bathrooms and fabrics. For the sanitization of smartphones and other devices, food, clothes, hair and dogs after outdoor walks, refer to the previous articles. (6)
Martina Novelli and Dario Dongo
Note
(1) Foster Kramer. This, not hand sanitizer, will save us from the COVID-19 Coronavirus. Futurism. 10.3.20, https://futurism.com/neoscope/soap-water-best-hand-sanitizer-coronavirus
(2) Do-it-yourself disinfectants, the WHO / WHO anti-Covid recipes. v. https://www.egalite.org/disinfettanti-fai-da-te-le-ricette-anti-covid-di-oms/
(3) ECDC. Disinfection of environments in healthcare and non-healthcare settings potentially contaminated with SARS-CoV-2. 25.3.20 https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/disinfection-environments-covid-19
(4) Siddhartha A, Pfaender S, Vielle NJ, Dijkman R, Friesland M, Becker B, et al. Virucidal Activity of World Health Organization – Recommended Formulations Against Enveloped Viruses, Including Zika, Ebola, and Emerging Coronaviruses. The Journal of infectious diseases. 2017; 215 (6): 902-6.
(5) Kampf Günter, Todt Daniel, Pfaender Stephanie, Steinmann Eike. (2020). Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents. Journal of Hospital Infection. 2020 104 / j.jhin.10.1016
(6) Disinfection of surfaces and objects. V. Sanitization of smartphones and other devices. V. https://www.egalite.org/covid-19-disinfettare-lo-smartphone/
Food, clothes and hair hygiene. v. https://www.egalite.org/covid-19-igiene-su-cibi-freschi-scarpe-cani-vestiti-e-capelli-liss-risponde/
Food safety. v. https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/sicurezza/coronavirus-nessun-rischio-negli-alimenti-circolare-del-ministero-della-salute
Pet protection. v. https://www.egalite.org/covid-19-come-proteggere-cani-e-gatti/
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
