Survival and Inactivation of Viruses on High-Touch Environmental Surfaces: Relevance to Countering the Spread of SARS-CoV-2

Presenter

Syed A. Sattar, M.Sc., Dip. Bact., M.S., Ph.D. RM (CCM), FAAM

Description:

This webinar will serve as an overview of viruses as disease-causing agents and their relative importance as human pathogens. It will explore ways in which respiratory viruses can contaminate high-touch environmental surfaces (HITES) as well as present the basics of environmental control to interrupt the spread of pathogens, as well as the types of HITES and viruses to focus on for decontamination. The presenter will explore the current means of virus decontamination of HITES, methods for testing disinfectants against viruses on HITES, and provide examples of successful interruption of virus spread by the disinfection of HITES. The presentation will provide a brief introduction to SARS CoV-2, its dissemination and survival on HITES, as well as coronavirus survival on human hands and its inactivation by ethanol-based handrubs. The evidence for the benefits of HITES decontamination in a field setting will also be discussed.

Duration: 53 minutes
Recording Date: October 2020