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Ozone Eliminates SARS-CoV-2 from Difficult-to-Clean Office Supplies and Clinical Equipment

Author

Listed:
  • Laura B. Torres-Mata

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    BioPharm Group, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Chemical Engineering & Materials Department, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Omar García-Pérez

    (Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Departamento de Medicina Interna, Dermatología y Psiquiatría, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Red Cooperativa de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Francisco Rodríguez-Esparragón

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Angeles Blanco

    (Chemical Engineering & Materials Department, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jesús Villar

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, ON M5B 1T8, Canada)

  • Fernando Ruiz-Apodaca

    (Lighting Dynamic Technology, SL, 35001 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • José L. Martín-Barrasa

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Aquaculture and Wild Species Health, Infectious Diseases, Universitary Institute of Animal Health and Food Safety (IUSA), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35413 Arucas, Spain)

  • Jesús M. González-Martín

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Pedro Serrano-Aguilar

    (Red de Investigación en Cronicidad, Atención Primaria y Promoción de la Salud (RICAPPS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Servicio de Evaluación y Planificación del Servicio Canario de Salud (SESCS), 38109 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
    Red de Agencias de Evaluación de Tecnologías Sanitarias y Prestaciones del Sistema Nacional de Salud (RedETS), 28071 Madrid, Spain)

  • José E. Piñero

    (Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Red Cooperativa de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain)

  • Elizabeth Córdoba-Lanús

    (Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Departamento de Medicina Interna, Dermatología y Psiquiatría, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Red Cooperativa de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain)

  • Jacob Lorenzo-Morales

    (Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
    Red Cooperativa de Enfermedades Tropicales (RICET), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    CIBER de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
    Departamento de Obstetricia, Ginecología, Pediatría, Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Toxicología, Medicina Legal y Forense y Parasitología, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain)

  • Bernardino Clavo

    (Research Unit, Hospital Universitario Dr. Negrín, 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Fundación Canaria del Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Canarias (FIISC), 35019 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    BioPharm Group, Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
    Instituto Universitario de Enfermedades Tropicales y Salud Pública de Canarias, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, 38200 La Laguna, Spain)

Abstract

(1) Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to cause profound health, economic, and social problems worldwide. The management and disinfection of materials used daily in health centers and common working environments have prompted concerns about the control of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection risk. Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that has been widely used in disinfection processes for decades. The aim of this study was to assess the optimal conditions of ozone treatment for the elimination of heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 from office supplies (personal computer monitors, keyboards, and computer mice) and clinical equipment (continuous positive airway pressure tubes and personal protective equipment) that are difficult to clean. (2) Methods: The office supplies and clinical equipment were contaminated in an area of 1 cm 2 with 1 × 10 4 viral units of a heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 strain, then treated with ozone using two different ozone devices: a specifically designed ozonation chamber (for low–medium ozone concentrations over large volumes) and a clinical ozone generator (for high ozone concentrations over small volumes). SARS-CoV-2 gene detection was carried out using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). (3) Results: At high ozone concentrations over small surfaces, the ozone eliminated SARS-CoV-2 RNA in short time periods—i.e., 10 min (at 4000 ppm) or less. The optimum ozone concentration over large volumes was 90 ppm for 120 min in ambient conditions (24 °C and 60–75% relative humidity). (4) Conclusions: This study showed that the appropriate ozone concentration and exposure time eliminated heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the surfaces of different widely used clinical and office supplies, decreasing their risk of transmission, and improving their reutilization. Ozone may provide an additional tool to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura B. Torres-Mata & Omar García-Pérez & Francisco Rodríguez-Esparragón & Angeles Blanco & Jesús Villar & Fernando Ruiz-Apodaca & José L. Martín-Barrasa & Jesús M. González-Martín & Pedro Serrano-Ag, 2022. "Ozone Eliminates SARS-CoV-2 from Difficult-to-Clean Office Supplies and Clinical Equipment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-13, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:14:p:8672-:d:864423
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