Essential Oil Disinfectant Efficacy Against SARS-CoV-2 Microbial Surrogates

Abstract

Reports of COVID-19 cases potentially attributed to fomite transmission led to the extensive use of various disinfectants to control viral spread. Alternative disinfectants, such as essential oils, have emerged as a potential antimicrobial. Four essential oil blends were tested on three different surfaces inoculated with a coronavirus surrogate, bacteriophage Phi 6, and a bacterial indicator, Staphylococcus aureus. Log10 concentration reductions were analyzed using GraphPad Prism software. Data collected in this study show that the application of dilute essential oil disinfectants using a spray delivery device is an effective way to reduce concentrations of bacterial and viral microorganisms on ceramic, stainless steel, and laminate surfaces. Surrogate viruses were reduced up to 6 log10 PFU and bacterial were reduced up to 4 log10 CFU. Although surfaces are no longer considered a high risk fomite for COVID-19 transmission, the disinfection of microorganisms on surfaces remains an important consideration for high touch areas in hospitals, waiting rooms, etc. The application of spray disinfectants, based on essential oil blends, provides a rapid and effective means to reduce microbial contamination on high-touched surfaces.

The management of COVID 19 by plant extracts, essential oils and phytoconstituents: A review

“…Frequent sneezing and dry coughing exhibited by the COVID-19 patient generate viral plumes of thousands of aerosols/droplets per cubic centimetre (26). According to Bailey et al (2021), SARS-CoV-2 is more likely spread through these aerosolization of viral particles, so that the mainly person-to person transmission occurs via respiratory secretions (28) to a healthy person if he happens to have contact with the infected person or any of his belongings, including clothes, doorknobs, etc (29). In addition, it can be transmitted through surface contamination (27) as a result of contact with contaminated inanimate objects, also known as fomite transmission (30), even more droplets can stay in the air for 3-8 hours and drastically infect a large number of people within few hours (17).…”

“…According to Bailey et al (2021), SARS-CoV-2 is more likely spread through these aerosolization of viral particles, so that the mainly person-to person transmission occurs via respiratory secretions (28) to a healthy person if he happens to have contact with the infected person or any of his belongings, including clothes, doorknobs, etc (29). In addition, it can be transmitted through surface contamination (27) as a result of contact with contaminated inanimate objects, also known as fomite transmission (30), even more droplets can stay in the air for 3-8 hours and drastically infect a large number of people within few hours (17). However, the indirect infection may occur among the increase in oxidative stress induced by dietary deficiencies which affect individual's immune response, leading to increased susceptibility to viral diseases such as COVID-19 (31).…”

“…EOs contain multiple active phytochemicals that can act synergistically on multiple stages of viral replication and also induce positive effects on host respiratory system including bronchodilation and mucus lysis (51), in some cases, it can replace conventional drugs (58). Furthermore, alternative disinfectants such as essential oils have emerged as a potential antimicrobial (27). Table 1 lists the essential oils, extracts and isolated compounds that have been demonstrated, in vivo, in vitro and in silico, to be potential candidates for the treatment of Covid 19.…”

Comparative Virucidal Activities of Essential Oils and Alcohol-Based Solutions against Enveloped Virus Surrogates: In Vitro and In Silico Analyses

“…EO-based disinfectants have been proposed as sanitizing agents for disinfection [ 5 , 14 , 16 ]. They can be used as an ingredient in OH-based disinfectants against viruses, reducing the adverse effects of the OH, but maintaining the virucidal action [ 17 , 18 ]. EO and ethanol mixtures were effective in reducing the concentration of viral particles when applied to ceramic, stainless steel, and laminate surfaces [ 17 ].…”

“…They can be used as an ingredient in OH-based disinfectants against viruses, reducing the adverse effects of the OH, but maintaining the virucidal action [ 17 , 18 ]. EO and ethanol mixtures were effective in reducing the concentration of viral particles when applied to ceramic, stainless steel, and laminate surfaces [ 17 ]. The EO of tea tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia ) combined with ethanol was effective in inactivating feline coronavirus (FCoVII) and the human coronavirus HCoV-OC4 [ 18 ].…”