Inactivation kinetics of benzalkonium chloride and ethanol-based hand sanitizers against a betacoronavirus and an alphacoronavirus.

Background: Hand hygiene is critical to lower the potential for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious agents by direct contact. When running water and soap are not available for hand hygiene, ethanol-based hand sanitizers are currently the recommended standard of care [1-3]. Though recently published data showed comparable effectiveness of benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-based and ethanol-based hand sanitizers against SARS-CoV-2 virus, a paucity of peer-reviewed data on the effectiveness of these formulations against other types of infective coronaviruses remains.

Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 by 2 commercially available Benzalkonium chloride-based hand sanitizers in comparison with an 80% ethanol-based hand sanitizer.

Background: The CDC and WHO recommend alcohol-based hand sanitizers to inactivate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 [SARS-CoV-2].

Aim: Benzalkonium chloride [BAK] is another hand sanitizer active ingredient that could be used in response to the global pandemic. Deployment of BAK-based hand sanitizers could reduce shortages of alcohol products and increase hand hygiene options where there are social, physical, and toxicological constraints on alcohol use.