TITLE:
Testing of the Adhesion of Herpes Simplex Virus on Textile Substrates and Its Inactivation by Household Laundry Processes
AUTHORS:
Anja Gerhardts, Dirk Bockmühl, Andrea Kyas, Anja Hofmann, Mirko Weide, Ingrid Rapp, Dirk Höfer
KEYWORDS:
Home Laundry, Herpes Simplex, Disinfectant Laundry Processes, Inactivation of Viruses
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.4 No.12,
December
14,
2016
ABSTRACT: Viral infections like Herpes simplex increasingly pose a serious threat to European health care systems and welfare of the population. Indirect transmission routes of infections via inanimate surfaces are often underestimated. In this study, we investigated the adhesion and persistence of Herpes simplex virus on cotton fabrics as well as its inactivation by domestic laundry. Virus adhesion to textile fibers was distinct, because viral DNA was detectable on fabrics for at least 48 hours after contamination as well as after home laundry. Particles remained infectious for several hours at room temperature and partially for 48 hours at 2℃ - 8℃. Nevertheless, domestic laundry was able to inactivate virus particles given that detergents were adequately used. This confirmed that standard household laundry processes, as established in Europe, are a suitable tool to reduce infectious Herpes virus particles from textiles, thereby supporting the prevention of infections circulating in the household and community.