Contact inactivation of orthopoxviruses by household disinfectants.

Common household disinfectants containing anionic and non-ionic detergents, oxygen-based bleach, potassium peroxomonosulphate, chloroxylenol and halogenated phenols were assessed for their ability to inactivate orthopoxviruses in contact or after a short incubation period in the presence and absence of fetal bovine serum. Significant differences were observed ranging from the negligible effect of detergents to the complete inactivation by chlororxylenol. Journal of Applied Microbiology 2005;99:1-5.