Special Water Kills Stomach Bug Viruses on Steel Surfaces
- Authors
- Eric Moorman, Naim Montazeri, Lee-Ann Jaykus
- Journal
- Applied and Environmental Microbiology
- Year
- 2017
- DOI
- 10.1128/AEM.00653-17
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Country
- United States
- Health Condition
- Gastroenteritis
- Body System
- Gastrointestinal
TL;DR
A disinfectant called neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) can effectively kill norovirus on clean stainless steel surfaces if used for long enough.
Key Finding
Neutral electrolyzed water at 250 ppm completely inactivated human norovirus on clean stainless steel surfaces after 30 minutes of contact by degrading the virus's protective capsid protein.
Summary
Researchers tested a disinfectant called neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) to see how well it kills human norovirus, a common cause of food poisoning. When applied to clean stainless steel surfaces for 30 minutes, the disinfectant at a concentration of 250 parts per million completely inactivated the virus by breaking down its protective outer shell. However, the disinfectant was much less effective on dirty surfaces, suggesting pre-cleaning is necessary.
Practical Takeaway
This study demonstrates a laboratory finding about disinfection efficacy, not about hydrogen water for human consumption. The research examined electrolyzed water as a surface disinfectant for norovirus in healthcare and food service settings, not as a beverage. This is a disinfection application, not a health supplement study, so it has no direct relevance to drinking hydrogen water.
Abstract
ABSTRACT Human norovirus (NoV) is the leading cause of acute gastroenteritis worldwide. Persistence on surfaces and resistance to many conventional disinfectants contribute to widespread transmission of norovirus. We examined the efficacy of neutral electrolyzed water (NEW; pH 7) for inactivation of human NoV GII.4 Sydney in suspension (ASTM method 1052-11) and on stainless steel surfaces (ASTM method 1053-11) with and without an additional soil load. The impact of the disinfectant on viral capsid was assessed using reverse transcriptase quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR; with an RNase pretreatment), SDS-PAGE, transmission electron microscopy, and a histo-blood group antigen (HBGA) receptor-binding assay. These studies were done in parallel with those using Tulane virus (TuV), a cultivable human NoV surrogate. Neutral electrolyzed water at 250 ppm free available chlorine produced a 4.8- and 0.4-log 10 reduction in NoV genome copy number after 1 min in suspension and on stainless steel, respectively. Increasing the contact time on surfaces to 5, 10, 15, and 30 min reduced human NoV genomic copies by 0.5, 1.6, 2.4, and 5.0 log 10 and TuV infectious titers by 2.4, 3.0, 3.8, and 4.1 log 10 PFU, respectively. Increased soil load effectively eliminated antiviral efficacy regardless of testing method and virus. Exposure to NEW induced a near complete loss of receptor binding (5 ppm, 30 s), degradation of VP1 major capsid protein (250 ppm, 5 min), and increased virus particle aggregation (150 ppm, 30 min). Neutral electrolyzed water at 250 ppm shows promise as an antinoroviral disinfectant when used on precleaned stainless steel surfaces. IMPORTANCE Norovirus is the leading cause of acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Transmission occurs by fecal-oral or vomitus-oral routes. The persistence of norovirus on contaminated environmental surfaces exacerbates its spread, as does its resistance to many conventional disinfectants. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the antinoroviral efficacy of neutral electrolyzed water (NEW), a novel chlorine-based disinfectant that can be used at reduced concentrations, making it more environmentally friendly and less corrosive than bleach. An industrial-scale electrochemical activation device capable of producing relatively stable electrolyzed water at a wide pH range was used in this study. Experiments showed that 250 ppm NEW effectively eliminated (defined as a 5-log 10 reduction) human norovirus GII.4 Sydney (epidemic strain) on clean stainless steel surfaces after a 30-min exposure. Supporting studies showed that, like bleach, NEW causes inactivation by disrupting the virus capsid. This product shows promise as a bleach alternative with antinoroviral efficacy.