Preventive Guidelines for Disinfection and Microbiological Processes During Handling of COVID-19 Samples

  • Muhammad Roman Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Sidra saleem Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Shah Jahan Department of Immunology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore Pakistan
  • Husnul Hayat Pediatric Department, Avicenna Medical College & Hospital Lahore
  • Faiz ul Haq Center for Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Pakistan
  • Abdul Waheed Department of Microbiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
  • Muhammad Nadeem Faculty of life sciences university of Central Punjab Lahore
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46405/ejms.v2i2.179
Keywords: Coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, Microbiology, Biosafety, Disinfection

Abstract

Since the first detection and emergence of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan, China in December 2019, it has become a worldwide health concern. Human to human airborne transmission and persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on inanimate surfaces or contaminated hands have been documented. Droplets transmission has been recognized as a major source of virus spread. Most of the samples received in the pathology laboratories were for the diagnosis of the corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19). The highest concentration of SARS-CoV-2 has been observed in the respiratory specimens compared to the non-respiratory specimens as the virus is present in lower concentration in urine, blood, and stool. The guidelines in this article present the procedures for disinfection and microbiological processes that should minimize the risk of infection to the laboratory personnel. Surface disinfection with sodium hypochlorite (0.1%), ethanol (62%-71%), or hydrogen peroxide (0.5%) with an exposure time of 1 min is likely to be efficient against SARS-CoV-2. However, the ultraviolet light at 254 nm, glutaraldehyde, formalin, heat treatment of 65 ◦C or above, and acidic (pH <3) may be effective for inactivating SARS-CoV-2. The SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on the inanimate surfaces for up to 9 days so laboratory personnel should be aware of the need for following the biosafety protocols while processing the specimens.

References

1.McMichael TM. COVID-19 in a long-term care facility—King County, Washington, February 27–March 9, 2020. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2020, 69. http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6912e1 [Google Scholar] [PubMed]

2. World Health Organization,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report,72.2020. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40779-020-00240-0 [Google Scholar] [BMC]

3.Ng K, Poon, BH, Kiat Puar TH, Shan Quah JL, Loh WJ, Wong YJ, Tan TY, Raghuram J. COVID-19 and the risk to health care workers: a case report. Annals of internal medicine 2020. https://doi.org/10.7326/L20-0175 [Goog scholar] [AMC]

4. World Health Organization. Infection prevention and control during health care when novel coronavirus (‎‎‎‎‎‎ nCoV)‎‎‎‎‎‎ infection is suspected: interim guidance, 25 January 2020. 2020.WHO/2019-nCoV/SurveillanceGuidance/2020.6[Google scholar] [WHO]

5.Sick PG. Interim Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for Handling and Processing Specimens Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html [Google scholar] [CDC]
6.Henwood AF. Coronavirus disinfection in histopathology. Journal of Histotechnology 2020, 43 (2), 102-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/01478885.2020.1734718 [Google Scholar]
7.Iwen PC, Stiles KL, Pentella MA. Safety considerations in the laboratory testing of specimens suspected or known to contain the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). American Journal of Clinical Pathology 2020, 153 (5), 567-570. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqaa047 [Google Scholar] [AJCP]

8.Kampf G. Potential role of inanimate surfaces for the spread of coronaviruses and their inactivation with disinfectant agents.Infection Prevention in Practice.2020,2(2),100044. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infpip.2020.100044 [Google Scholar] [sciencedirect]

9.Kampf G,Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents.Journal of Hospital Infection 2020,104(3),246-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022 [Google Scholar] [sciencedirect]

10.Dong JH. Stability of SARS coronavirus in human specimens and environment and its sensitivity to heating and UV irradiation. 2003. BES, 01 Sep 2003, 16(3):246-255 [Google Scholar] [PMC]

11.Weinstein RA, Hota B. Contamination, disinfection, and cross-colonization: are hospital surfaces reservoirs for nosocomial infection? Clinical infectious diseases 2004, 39 (8), 1182-1189. https://doi.org/10.1086/424667 [Google Scholar] [IDSA]

12.Darnell ME, Subbarao K, Feinstone SM, Taylor DR. Inactivation of the coronavirus that induces severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS-CoV. Journal of virological methods 2004, 121 (1), 85-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.06.006 [Google scholar] [Sciencedirect]
13.Ağalar C, Engin DÖ. Protective measures for COVID-19 for healthcare providers and laboratory personnel. Turkish journal of medical sciences. 2020 Apr 21; 50(SI-1):578-84.doi: 10.3906/sag-2004-132 [PMC] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020. Interim US guidance for risk assessment and public health management of healthcare personnel with potential exposure in a healthcare setting to patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-risk-assesment-hcp.html
15. Rabenau HF, Cinatl J, Morgenstern B, Bauer G, Preiser W, Doerr HW. Stability and inactivation of SARS coronavirus. Medical microbiology and immunology. 2005 Jan 1;194 (1-2):1-6. DOI 10.1007/s00430-004-0219-0
EJMS COVID-17
Published
2020-10-03
How to Cite
1.
Roman M, Sidra saleem, Shah Jahan, Husnul Hayat, Faiz ul Haq, Abdul Waheed, Muhammad Nadeem. Preventive Guidelines for Disinfection and Microbiological Processes During Handling of COVID-19 Samples. Europasian J Med Sci. [Internet]. 2020Oct.3 [cited 2024May13];20:59-3. Available from: https://www.europasianjournals.org/ejms/index.php/ejms/article/view/179
Issue
Vol 2 (2020): EJMS COVID-19 Special Issue 3
Section
Review Articles

Copyright (c) 2020 Author(s)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

All articles published in EJMS are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC-BY 4.0). The author(s) as the copyright holder will retain the ownership of the copyrights without any restrictions for their content under the CC-BY 4.0 license, and allow others to copy, use, print, share, modify, and distribute the content of the article even in commercial purpose as long as the original authors and the journal are properly cited. No permission is required from the author/s or the publishers. Appropriate attribution can be provided by simply citing the original article.

On behalf of all the authors, the corresponding author is responsible for completing and returning the agreement form to the editorial office. More information about the terms and conditions, privacy policies, and copyrights can be found on the webpage of the Creative Commons license privacy policy. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/