Healthcare professionals are tirelessly exploring novel strategies to mitigate the spread of infectious diseases. Two novel approaches gaining traction include manipulating the acidity of air in healthcare settings and utilizing copper surfaces due its virucidal properties. Various investigations point towards temperature and humidity impacting viral persistence, however a new perspective has been introduced: the acidity of airborne aerosols.
A collaborative study between ETH Zurich, EPFL, and the University of Zurich revealed the correlation between aerosol particles’ acidity and their viral load. The investigation centers on the understanding that aerosol acidity swiftly changes under various environmental conditions and it ultimately affects the virility of enclosed viruses. Research endorsed the concept of introducing volatile acids like nitric acid to the air while eliminating basic substances like ammonia, which accelerates the aerosols’ acidification and in turn, potentially deterrent to viral transmission.
Another inventive method involves the application of copper surfaces due to their unique antimicrobial properties. Scientists from the University of Southampton found copper and its alloys to be effective against multiple viruses including norovirus, a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis globally. They discovered that the viral genome deteriorated upon contact with copper, thus reducing the disease causing ability. Results from their study hint at the significant potential of copper-alloy surfaces as a supplementary sanitary measure in healthcare facilities. The viral inactivation rate was found to directly correspond to the alloy’s copper content.
To conclude, the scientific community is pushing boundaries to invent creative approaches to infection control employing tactics such as the acidification of air and using copper surfaces, which have the potential to reduce the infectious disease burden in healthcare facilities significantly.