Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) environmental contamination has been studied and assessed using reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on various surface materials and survival times. During a previous study, we visually observed persistent residue build-up from Oxivir TB wipes on the surface of high-touch areas in COVID-19 patient rooms. In this study, 5.5% of surfaces were positive by RT-PCR, and only 0.3% were positive by cell culture. Concurrent with low environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2, our lab hypothesized that disinfectant wipe residue may have influenced our low positivity rates of high-touch areas in COVID-19 patient rooms.
The DiRTE Lab assessed Oxivir Tb wipe disinfectant residue in a controlled laboratory setting to evaluate low environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2. Frequency of viral RNA detection was not statistically different between intervention and control arms on day 3 (P=0.14). Environmental contamination viability is low; residual disinfectant did not significantly contribute to low contamination.
Check out the full article in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.