Efficacy of an alcohol‐based surface disinfectant formulation against human norovirus

AIM: To evaluate the anti‐noroviral efficacy of PURELL® surface sanitizer and disinfectant spray (PSS, an alcohol‐based formulation) using human norovirus GII.4 Sydney [hNoV, by RT‐qPCR and human intestinal enteroid (HIE) infectivity assay] and its cultivable surrogate, Tulane virus (TuV, infectivity assay), compared to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solutions. METHODS AND RESULTS: PSS efficacy was evaluated in suspension and on surfaces [stainless steel (SS)] using ASTM methods. Results were expressed as log(10) reduction (LR) of genome equivalent copy number (GEC, for hNoV, assayed by RT‐qPCR) and plaque forming units (PFU, for TuV, per infectivity assay). In suspension, PSS achieved a 2.9 ± 0.04 LR hNoV GEC irrespective of contact time (30 or 60 s) and soil load (2.5% or 5%). Under all treatment conditions, infectious TuV could not be recovered following exposure to PSS, corresponding to the assay limit of detection (3.1–5.2 log(10) PFU). Infectious hNoV could not be detected in the HIE model after exposure to PSS. On SS and 2.5% soil, PSS produced a 3.1 ± 0.1 LR hNoV GEC, comparable to 500 ppm NaOCl for 60 s. With 5.0% soil, PSS produced a 2.5 ± 0.2 LR hNoV GEC, which was similar to 1000–5000 ppm NaOCl for 60 s. CONCLUSIONS: PSS showed high anti‐hNoV efficacy by RT‐qPCR and in in vitro (TuV) and ex vivo (HIE) infectivity assays and performed similar to 1000–5000 ppm NaOCl for a 60‐s contact time on SS with added soil. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: hNoV remains a significant cause of morbidity globally, partly due to its resistance to numerous surface disinfectants. RT‐qPCR results from this study indicate PSS efficacy against hNoV is comparable to NaOCl efficacy. Infectivity assays leveraging TuV and the HIE model for hNoV support and confirm loss of virus infectivity. Collectively, these results indicate the product’s ability to inactivate hNoV quickly, which could be beneficial in settings having elevated risk for hNoV transmission.