Sains Malaysiana 50(7)(2021): 2135-2140

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2021-5007-26

Proof of Concept: The Effectiveness of Disinfectant Tunnel as Potential Measure against COVID-19

(Bukti Konsep: Keberkesanan Terowong Sanitasi sebagai Langkah Potensi terhadap COVID-19)

NORATIQAH MOHTAR¹, NUR HAFZAN MD. HANAFIAH², NG SUI YEE³, AMIRAH MOHD GAZZALI¹ & THAIGARAJAN PARUMASIVAM¹*

¹Discipline of Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

²Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

³Pharmacy Department, Pusat Sejahtera, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Received: 21 January 2021/Accepted: 4 June 2021

ABSTRACT

Disinfectant tunnels have attracted attention as a potential measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19, but their safety and effectiveness are questionable. Disinfectants such as sodium hypochlorite were used, yet no scientific evidence is available on its effectiveness to eliminate SARS-CoV-2 on the human body through spraying, although this chemical is effective in the elimination of the virus on inanimate surfaces. Since safety issues are of importance, countries have halted the operation of these tunnels. Available literature has suggested several effective disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2, including iodine-based solution, such as povidone-iodine (PVP-I). This report describes the evaluation of the bactericidal activity of PVP-I in comparison to sodium hypochlorite, both in vitro and following spraying under a model tunnel. Two bacteria strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600) were used as model microorganisms. The spraying pattern and droplets distribution from the tunnel are also being described and were correlated with the effectiveness of the disinfectant droplets to eliminate the model bacteria. Results showed that 0.5 % v/v PVP-I and 0.5% v/v sodium hypochlorite are bactericidal (> 5 log10 reduction) in vitro. However, sprayed disinfectants did not show similar activity. Bacterial growth was seen in all cloth samples for 0.5% v/v PVP-I and all cloth samples except right shoulder for 0.5 % v/v sodium hypochlorite. Hence, the design of any disinfectant tunnel is important, and with an effective disinfectant to justify its efficacy.

Keywords: Bactericidal; COVID-19; disinfectant; disinfectant tunnel; povidone iodine

ABSTRAK

Terowong sanitasi telah menarik minat sebagai suatu kaedah yang berpotensi untuk mengekang penularan wabak COVID-19, namun keselamatan dan keberkesanannya menjadi satu persoalan. Disinfektan seperti natrium hipoklorit telah digunakan namun tiada bukti saintifik berkaitan keberkesanannya untuk membasmi SARS-CoV-2 pada tubuh manusia melalui semburan, walaupun bahan kimia ini berkesan membasmi virus yang terdapat di permukaan objek tak bernyawa. Isu keselamatan ialah suatu yang penting, maka banyak negara telah menghentikan operasi terowong sebegini. Tinjauan kepustakaan menunjukkan terdapat beberapa disinfektan yang berkesan terhadap SARS-CoV-2 termasuk larutan berasaskan iodin, seperti iodin povidon (PVP-I). Laporan ini akan memperincikan penilaian terhadap aktiviti bakterisid PVP-I berbanding natrium hipoklorit secarain vitro dan melalui semburan di bawah satu model terowong. Dua strain bakteria(Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 dan Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600) telah digunakan sebagai model mikroorganisma. Corak semburan dan taburan titisan daripada terowong tersebut juga telah dijelaskan dan keputusan ini telah dikaitkan dengan keberkesanan titisan disinfektan tersebut untuk membasmi model bakteria tersebut. Keputusan menunjukkan PVP-I pada kepekatan 0.5 % v/v dan natrium hipoklorit pada kepekatan 0.5 % v/v telah menunjukkan aktiviti bakteriasid (penurunan≥5 log10) terhadap model bakteria secara in vitro. Walau bagaimanapun, disinfektan secara semburan tidak menunjukkan aktiviti yang sama. Pertumbuhan bakteria telah dilihat pada kesemua sampel kain yang digunakan untuk PVP-I dan kesemua sampel kain untuk natrium hipoklorit kecuali di bahu. Reka bentuk sesebuah terowong sanitasi adalah penting dan bersama-sama disinfektan yang berkesan, terowong sebegini mungkin boleh dibuktikan berkesan. Penggunaan terowong ini perlu dilakukan secara berhati-hati dan hanya pada keadaan tertentu, bukan untuk kegunaan harian bagi masyarakat awam.

Kata kunci: Bakteriasid; COVID-19; disinfektan; iodin povidon; terowong sanitasi

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*Corresponding author; email: thaigarp@usm.my