Disinfection of Hospitals: International Experience during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Several methods of environmental disinfection were used to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission including chemical, physical, radiation and combinations of these methods. We summarize and review the latest results about the disinfection methods against COVID-19 in hospital setting. Methods: The following search term was used: (COVID 19 OR corona OR MERS-CoV-2) AND (disinfect* OR UV OR Ozone OR Chlorine) in the title and abstract. A literature search was also performed to retrieve study articles regarding Covid-19 (SARS-CoV-2) and disinfection in dental clinics. The final search identified that five groups of disinfectants include: Bleach (chlorine containing disinfectants), alcohol, UV irradiation, Hydrogen peroxide, and other disinfectants (e.g., ethylene oxide, glutaraldehyde, quaternary ammonium disinfectants, chlorhexidine Gluconate, povidone iodine, peroxyacetic acid etc.) were used against COVID-19 in different spaces. Results: The initial search identified 320 articles and then 60 articles that were closely relevant to our subject were selected. After the screening of the titles and abstracts of these articles, 21 articles which include clear information about the types and application of different disinfectants were selected and the full text of them evaluated by two of authors independently. Then the results of these articles extracted and the types of disinfectants which used in different places were determined and summarized. Conclusions: Many of generally used disinfectants such as alcohol or chlorine containing solutions show a significant effect on the SARS-CoV-2 inactivation. the efficient technologies of deactivation of viruses as SARS-CoV from hospital waste water are Chlorine (Cl2 ) Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) Chlorine dioxide (ClO2 ) Ozone (O3 ) and UV irradiation.