[marjenes@OPTUSNET.COM.AU Subject: Re: FW: Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents In-Reply-To:]

Mon

Dear Scott,

When advising eye specialists in their office based practice, I ask them to
firstly review what items are labelled single use (first surprise) and for
any reusable items to then check the manufacturers’ instructions for
reprocessing – that deals with most of my issues but comes as a shock to
them. I have checked the cost of disposables where available and this is
minimal and of course no excuse to achieving the required standard. You
mention other equipment – not only is the required wet contact time ever
adequate (not to mention no cleaning), there are contraindications to using
alcohol on various items because of the damage it may cause to contact
cement etc.

I’d like to know what standard your clients are following that permits an
alcohol wipe of a single use item or insufficient device decontamination of
a reusable piece of equipment? As you point out, where they are making
contact with the surface of the eye, such contact is not the same as contact
with intact skin and any reprocessing is to be done to a standard. Corona
virus and adeno virus aside, we know that many other respiratory viruses e.g
influenza can access via the eyes/tear ducts.

I am sure that Terry MacAuley will have more to say on this as it’s a topic
we have corresponded on regarding the disposables.

Regards,

Margaret Jennings
Marjen Education Services

website. http://www.marjenes.com.au
email. marjenes@optusnet.com.au

mob. 0404 088 754

Pabst
inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents

Hi Glenys and all,

(I declare my conflict of interest as a medical device disinfectant
supplier), however, my point is NON COMMERCIAL IN NATURE.

Re the current Corona Virus situation: I have noticed something concerning
during my interactions with Public Hospital Ophthalmic and
Optometry/Orthoptic departments and Private Practices/Optometry sites- and
that is overwhelming the use of Isopropyl Alcohol Wipes as a supposed
“disinfectant” for Medical devices contacting the eye or secretions of the
eye.

The concern is two fold and point 2 relates to Corona Virus.

1.Isopropyl Alcohol requires a wet contact time of 5 minutes to be
Bactericidal, but the alcohol has a flash point/drying time of approx. 40
Seconds so the bactericidal effect not completed
2.Isopropyl Alcohol Wipes are NOT VIRUCIDAL, with any length of
contact time.

I have had many discussions with Hospitals regarding the selection of a
disinfectant that is effective against ADENOVIRUS (as this is a leading
cause of Kerato-Conjunctivitis) and as such requires a disinfectant that is
at least Viricidal.

Now though, the reports and evidence are suggesting/confirming that Corona
Virus is transmissible via the mucosa of the eye as well as via the
secretions, just as SARS was identified as transmissible in this way during
that outbreak event. The recommendations are for full PPE including Eye
protection for carers in the outbreak zone. And whilst this is prudent for
protection of healthcare workers, it does not address the reprocessing of
the Ophthalmic Medical Devices which contact the eye during
Ophthalmic/Orthoptic diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

I believe this is currently an entirely overlooked pathway of Virus
transmission, and it concerns me greatly that two peak organisations here in
Australia- Optometry Australia and RANZCO (college of Ophthalmology)
actively promote the use of Isopropyl Alcohol for disinfection, (and
5,000ppm of Sodium Hyper-Chlorite) in direct conflict with the requirements
of ASNZ 4187.

Just by way of reminder, the requirement under the ASNZ 4187 (as a MINIMUM)
is for HIGH LEVEL DISINFECTION of Medical Devices used in contact with
broken skin and Mucosal surfaces.

The product selected MUST be: a TGA approved, INSTRUMENT GRADE, HIGH LEVEL
DISINFECTANT (Class 2B)- not a listed or registered disinfectant, also known
as an OTG (other therapeutic good)- products with this level of registration
are ONLY approved for use as SURFACE disinfectants, not device
disinfectants.

I am interested in the opinion of others on this forum as to 1. the risk and
2. the desire to close that GAP by insisting only High Leve, Instrument
Grade disinfectants be used in this space (with the required appropriate
tracking/auditing capability), as required by ASNZ 4187.

Yours Sincerely

Scott

Scott Pabst
National Sales Manager

Tristel Australia

T 1300 680 898 (inside Australia)
T +613 9583 6181 (outside Australia)
M 0435 843 950

Tristel Pty Ltd.
40/328 Reserve Road | Cheltenham | VIC | Australia | 3192

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> On Behalf Of Glenys Harrington
inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents

Dear All,

This publication (in press yesterday) notes the following in the summary:

*”The analysis of 22 studies reveals that human coronaviruses such as
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East
Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus or endemic human coronaviruses
(HCoV) can persist on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up
to 9 days, but can be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfection
procedures with 62-71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium
hypochlorite within 1 minute”.

Kampf G, et al. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its
inactivation with biocidal agents, Journal of Hospital Infection, https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022.

May be of interest/use.

Regards

Glenys

Glenys Harrington

Consultant

Infection Control Consultancy (ICC)

P.O. Box 6385

Melbourne

Australia, 3004

M: +61 404816434

E: infexion@ozemail.com.au

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