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Review
. 2024 Oct 31:15:1463056.
doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1463056. eCollection 2024.

Research progress on environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses

Ling Zhang #  1 , Zhongbiao Fang #  1 , Jiaxuan Li #  1 , Zhiwei Huang  2 , Xiaotian Tie  1   3 , Hongyu Li  1 , Jianhua Li  4 , Yanjun Zhang  4 , Yuanyuan Zhang  5 , Keda Chen  1
Affiliations
Review

Research progress on environmental stability of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses

Ling Zhang et al. Front Microbiol. .

Abstract

We reviewed research on SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus detection on surfaces, their persistence under various conditions, and response to disinfectants. Viral contamination in community and healthcare settings was analyzed, emphasizing survival on surfaces influenced by temperature, pH, and material. Findings showed higher concentrations enhance survivability at room temperature, whereas stability increases at 4°C. Both viruses decline in low pH and high heat, with influenza affected by salinity. On various material surfaces, SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses demonstrate considerable variations in survival durations, and SARS-CoV-2 is more stable than influenza virus. On the skin, both virus types can persist for ≥2 h. Next, we delineated the virucidal efficacy of disinfectants against SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses. In daily life, exposure to ethanol (70%), isopropanol (70%), bleach (10%), or hydrogen peroxide (1-3%) for 15-30 min can effectively inactive various SARS-CoV-2 variants. Povidone-iodine (1 mg/mL, 1 min) or cetylpyridinium chloride (0.1 mg/mL, 2 min) may be used to inactive different SARS-CoV-2 variants in the mouth. Chlorine disinfectants (500 mg/L) or ultraviolet light (222 nm) can effectively inhibit different SARS-CoV-2 variants in public spaces. In conclusion, our study provides a scientific basis and practical guidance for reduction of viral persistence (retention of infectivity) on surfaces and environmental cleanliness.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; disinfectants; environmental contamination; environmental stability; influenza.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Overview of SARS-CoV-2 environmental distribution and preventive measures. (A) SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in clinical and living environments. (B) Showcased the positivity rates and pie charts of SARS-CoV-2 commonly used hospital items and medical equipment in hospitals and medical institutions; SARS-CoV-2 air positivity rate and bar chart in public places; The distribution of influenza and SARS-CoV-2 in different materials. (C) Multiple preventive measures. Created with https://app.biorender.com/gallery/illustrations.
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Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by the State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University (Award Number: SKLID2020KF0420); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Award Number: 32000293); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Award Number: 82151220); and the National Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program for College Students in 2023 (Award Number: 202311842005X).

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