Comparison of the in vitro-efficacy of different mouthwash solutions targeting SARS-CoV-2 based on the European Standard EN 14476
K Steinhauer, TL Meister, D Todt, A Krawczyk, L Paßvogel, B Becker, D Paulmann, B Bischoff, S Pfaender, FHH Brill, E Steinmann
PMID: 33582201 PMCID: PMC7876484 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.01.031
The outbreak of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic is triggering a global health emergency alert. Until vaccination becomes available, a bundle of effective preventive measures is desperately needed. Recent research is indicating the relevance of aerosols in the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Thus, in this study commercially available antiseptic mouthwashes based on the actives chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX) and octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT) were investigated regarding their efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 using the European Standard 14476. Based on the requirement of EN 14476 in which reduction of at least four decimal logarithms (log10) of viral titer is requested to state efficacy, the OCT-based formulation was found to be effective within a contact time of only 15 sec against SARS-CoV-2. Based on this in vitro-data the OCT-mouthwash thus constitutes an interesting candidate for future clinical studies to prove its effectiveness in a potential prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by aerosols.