Effect of Drying and Exposure to Vaporous Hydrogen Peroxide on the Inactivation of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) on Non-porous Surfaces

This study demonstrated the combined effect of drying and vaporous hydrogen peroxide exposure on inactivating highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) on the non-porous materials glass, Hypalon ® rubber glove, and stainless steel. Approximately 7.7 log10 TCID50 (median 50% tissue culture infectious dose)/mL of A/Vietnam/1203/2004 H5N1 in allantoic fluid was dried on coupons of each type of test surface and exposed to vaporous hydrogen peroxide fumigation within a ~15 m 3 chamber. A significant reduction in the total log10 TCID50 of H5N1 on all test materials was observed between the controls evaluated after a 1-hour drying time and unexposed controls evaluated after decontamination. The H5N1 exhibited a 2-3 log decrease in viability, and vaporous hydrogen peroxide further inactivated the virus to below detectable levels. In parallel, Geobacillus stearothermophilus biological indicators exposed to vaporous hydrogen peroxide exhibited no growth after 1 and 7 days' incubation. This study provides information on the persistence in viability of H5N1 on non-porous surfaces that can be mitigated by vaporous hydrogen peroxide fumigation of a large chamber.