Why conventional disinfectants (applied in traditional ways) are technically an inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A new, highly virulent and highly contagious infectious disease called ‘Novel Coronavirus Disease’ or ‘COVID-19’ for short, is currently causing a global pandemic. Having spread to every country in the world, infecting millions of people and killing a huge number of them, all within a three-month period from inception.
As the name given to this lethal pathogenic virus infers, the Novel (Corona Virus) is by medical and scientific definition ‘a new strain of pathogenic virus that has not been previously identified in humans before’.
There are a some defining attributes that bestow this particular pathogenic virus with such lethal, insidious characteristics.
This viral pathogen has never previously seen in humans before. Therefore, the entire human race, at a global scale, has no immunity to it all, thereby rendering every human being on the planet extremely vulnerable to infection, with no exceptions.
COVID-19 Virus is Exceptionally Contagious
Having a global “R0 Number” in excess of 5.7, this means that a single person infected with the disease will, on average, spread the disease to 5 or 6 others, who in turn, will each infect a further 5 or 6 people, which has led to an exponential doubling time of infection and death rates of only 2 to 3 days.
High “R0 Number”
The number is predicated by the viruses simple yet highly effective modes of transmission from one person to another, either directly or indirectly.
- Direct transmission can occur either by physical contact with an infectious person or by inhaling infectious aerosol droplets from their coughs or sneezes.
- Indirect transmission is far more insidious and occurs by touching surfaces previously touched and contaminated by an already infectious carrier. It is this mode of transmission that is the most insidious, the most dangerous and indeed, the most difficult to control. It is usually accomplished by the use of disinfectants
Interrupting direct transmission can only be achieved by enhanced behavioural hygiene practices and social distancing.
Interrupting indirect transmission can only be achieved by eliminating the virus once it has left its previous host and is invisibly lying in wait on contaminated surfaces ready to infect further victims with this deadly disease. Left unchecked, the Coronavirus has been shown to remain invisibly and dangerously infectious on any surface, hard or soft, for up to 72 hours. Thereby allowing it to infect many more potential victims of the disease. So, in order to kill and completely eradicate a dangerous ‘Novel Virus’, an equally ‘Novel Response’ is required. A response that can destroy this virus and stop it in its tracks and is capable of ‘Raising the Standard Beyond Conventional Disinfection’.
Problems with Conventional Disinfectants
There are actually two very simple unequivocal reasons why traditional disinfectants that are applied in conventional ways are inherently and completely inadequate to deal with surfaces that have been contaminated with a highly contagious, virulent and lethal virus such as the COVID-19 virus.
In the language of infection control, regular sanitisation has 99.9% efficacy rate meaning that 99.9% of all known germs will be eliminated, this is also termed as a ‘3 Log Kill Rate’. Disinfection has a 99.99% efficacy or ‘4 Log Kill Rate’. However, when confronted with a virus as contagious and dangerous as COVID-19 this level of efficacy is chemically inadequate and not fit for purpose.
Traditional Disinfectants are Inadequate
Conventional methods employed to apply them actually exacerbate their inherent chemical inadequacies even further!
Conventional non-residual disinfectants can only destroy pathogens during their initial wet contact time and are only effective when the proper dilution rate and method of application are strictly followed to ensure the necessary contact time is achieved. This accuracy needs to be replicated 100% of the time, every single time. Anything less than a perfect application process will inevitable deliver sub-optimal results.
The two usual methods of disinfectant application are ether by cloth or by spray. Their mechanical deficiencies will be highlighted in turn.
Application by cloth: when wiping down surfaces with a cloth it is inevitable that not each and every square millimeter of every surface will be touched and so, this application method further compromises the efficiency of something that was only 99.99% efficient in the first place.
Application by spraying: when using conventional sprays, they cannot by nature reach every single nook and cranny, there will inevitably be areas that are in ‘shadow’ and remain dry and inaccessible to the spray droplets. Once again, this compromises the efficiency of something that was only 99.99% efficient in the first place.
Raising the Standard Beyond Disinfection
Big Red recognises the significant deficiencies with traditional disinfectants and conventional application methods and thus, the remaining risks of infection. Big Red have successfully mitigated both risks associated with inadequate chemicals and inefficient application by using a new generation product called BRStrike.
In order to eradicate the COVID-19 virus from each and every surface where it might be present a far more radical approach is required, an approach that can consistently deliver a 99.9999% or Six Log Kill Rate. BRStrike delivers exactly this outcome, rendering treated surfaces not just ‘clean’, not just ‘sanitised’ not even just ‘disinfected’, but instead, a surface that (by internationally accepted microbiological standards), can actually be described as ‘sterile’. This total eradication and elimination of the COVID-19 virus (and all other micro-organisms present) therefore renders each and every treated surface completely safe and totally free of all pathogenic organisms including COVID-19.
This is how BRStrike tackles the two combined deficiencies described above (chemical inadequacy coupled with mechanical inefficiency).
A liquid solution of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is nebulised into a very fine aerosol mist which is then passed under pressure through a cold plasma arc. The plasma arc (also described as a Binary Ionisation Technology) endows the very fine aerosol droplets of Hydrogen Peroxide with an added ionic charge.
This effectively ‘supercharges’ an already effective disinfectant into a highly potent sterilization agent with a proven and unparalleled 99.9999% kill rate. Dr. Martin Blake, Big Red’s resident Technical Advisor, described this innovation in the following way “BRStrike takes a disinfectant that is already highly effective, and then places it on steroids”
The reason that the ionic charge makes the aerosol droplets of Hydrogen Peroxide so effective is that the ionic charge (which can be considered similar to a magnetic polarity) now enables the droplets to be physically and magnetically attracted to the actual surfaces of the virus itself. This provides the Hydrogen Peroxide with an added ‘Hunter Killer’ characteristic that multiplies its efficacy several-fold.
BRStrike has a very rapid application and turnaround time, yet covers every conceivable nook and cranny of the area being treated, eliminates infection risks, is non-corrosive and bleach-free and is safe for electronic equipment.
However, it must be clearly stated that no matter how efficient you are at completely eliminating COVID-19 viruses from any surface, even if you achieve 99.9999% efficiency and a Log 6 Kill Rate, it will provide only a very short-lived victory in the ongoing battle against COVID-19 if, post treatment, a surface immediately becomes re-infected by the next actively contagious person that touches it.
Therefore, stage two of the Big Red COVID-19 Eradication Programme’ also addresses this secondary risk and mitigates it completely using another innovative product called BRShield.
Related Posts
- One of Singapore’s Largest Retail Banks Chooses BR Shield to Protect its High Touch Surfaces
- Beware of Improper Surface Protection Application
- Anti-Viral Surface Coating to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 on High Touch Surfaces
- Coronavirus: Covid-19 bug can persist in air for hours and on surfaces for days, study shows
- Hong Kong scientists say new anti-viral coating can protect surfaces for 90 days
Suggested Readings
The New COVID-19 Strain and the Risk of Transmission from Upholstery, Textiles and Fabric Covered Surfaces
How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home: Limiting Coronavirus Exposure
COVID 19: Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols
Mitigating the Risk of Coronavirus Infection with the Best Housekeeping Protocols
