Cleaning Franchise, Commercial Disinfectants and Novoviruses

Filed in archive Did you know , Microbiology on January 22, 2010

© Frederick Md Publicity

According to a recent study published in the Journal of Food Protection, some commercial disinfectants used to clean surfaces are believed to be ineffective in eliminating noroviruses, a group of viruses responsible for more than half of all food-borne gastroenteritis outbreaks. Data indicates that only bleach-based disinfectants drastically reduce the concentration of these viruses.

The researchers compared the efficacy of three categories of household disinfectants in eliminating noroviruses: bleach-based products, alcohol-based products, and quaternary ammonium-based products. Lab tests showed that five minutes of contact with a bleach-based disinfectant reduced the concentration of noroviruses on a stainless steel surface by a factor of 1,000, while alcohol- and quaternary ammonium-based products proved 100 times less effective. the problem lies in that, according to the authors of the study, some 40% of the commercial surface disinfectants in the market, possibly including those used by cleaning franchise companies, are alcohol or ammonium based.

Julie Jean's team also discovered that it takes only ten minutes for human noroviruses to firmly latch on to a stainless steel surface. "Once attached, these viruses can survive for weeks and potentially contaminate anyone who touches them. And it's highly probable that our findings on stainless steel surfaces also apply to other materials," concluded Professor Jean.