Stability of SARS-CoV-2 on inanimate surfaces: A review

Jiayao Xu; Chengyin Xu; Ruilin Chen; Yun Yin; Zengliang Wang; Ke Li; Jin Shi; Xi Chen; Jiaqi Huang; Jie Hong; Rui Yuan; Yuanhua Liu; Rui Liu; Yizhen Wang; Xin Liu; Zhijie Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.micres.2023.127388

Stability of SARS-CoV-2 on inanimate surfaces: A review

Microbiol Res. 2023 Jul:272:127388. doi: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127388. Epub 2023 Apr 20.

Authors

Jiayao Xu¹, Chengyin Xu², Ruilin Chen², Yun Yin¹, Zengliang Wang³, Ke Li¹, Jin Shi¹, Xi Chen¹, Jiaqi Huang¹, Jie Hong¹, Rui Yuan¹, Yuanhua Liu¹, Rui Liu⁴, Yizhen Wang⁴, Xin Liu⁴, Zhijie Zhang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Epidemiology and Health statistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
² Department of Epidemiology and Health statistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
³ Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250011, China.
⁴ Department of Geomatics and Spatial Information, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, Shandong 266510, China.
⁵ Department of Epidemiology and Health statistics, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: epistat@gmail.com.

Abstract

The stability of SARS-CoV-2 for varying periods on a wide range of inanimate surfaces has raised concerns about surface transmission; however, there is still no evidence to confirm this route. In the present review, three variables affecting virus stability, namely temperature, relative humidity (RH), and initial virus titer, were considered from different experimental studies. The stability of SARS-CoV-2 on the surfaces of six different contact materials, namely plastic, metal, glass, protective equipment, paper, and fabric, and the factors affecting half-life period was systematically reviewed. The results showed that the half-life of SARS-CoV-2 on different contact materials was generally 2-10 h, up to 5 d, and as short as 30 min at 22 °C, whereas the half-life of SARS-CoV-2 on non-porous surfaces was generally 5-9 h d, up to 3 d, and as short as 4 min at 22 ℃. The half-life on porous surfaces was generally 1-5 h, up to 2 d, and as short as 13 min at 22 °C. Therefore, the half-life period of SARS-CoV-2 on non-porous surfaces is longer than that on porous surfaces, and thehalf-life of the virus decreases with increasing temperature, whereas RH produces a stable negative inhibitory effect only in a specific humidity range. Various disinfection precautions can be implemented in daily life depending on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 on different surfaces to interrupt virus transmission, prevent COVID-19 infections, and avoid over-disinfection. Owing to the more stringent control of conditions in laboratory studies and the lack of evidence of transmission through surfaces in the real world, it is difficult to provide strong evidence for the efficiency of transmission of the contaminant from the surface to the human body. Therefore, we suggest that future research should focus on exploring the systematic study of the entire transmission process of the virus, which will provide a theoretical basis for optimizing global outbreak prevention and control measures.

Keywords: Disinfection and prevention measures; Half-life period; Inanimate surfaces; Influencing factors; SARS-CoV-2; Stability.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Disinfection
Humans
SARS-CoV-2*
Temperature
Textiles