Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures
Abstract Background Acetic acid has been used to clean and disinfect surfaces in the household for many decades. The antimicrobial efficacy of cleaning procedures can be considered particularly important for young, old, pregnant, immunocompromised people, but may also concern other groups, particula...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2020-08-01
|
| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-020-01948-8 |
| _version_ | 1819173720033329152 |
|---|---|
| author | Marc-Kevin Zinn Dirk Bockmühl |
| author_facet | Marc-Kevin Zinn Dirk Bockmühl |
| author_sort | Marc-Kevin Zinn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Acetic acid has been used to clean and disinfect surfaces in the household for many decades. The antimicrobial efficacy of cleaning procedures can be considered particularly important for young, old, pregnant, immunocompromised people, but may also concern other groups, particularly with regards to the COVID-19 pandemics. This study aimed to show that acetic acid exhibit an antibacterial and antifungal activity when used for cleaning purposes and is able to destroy certain viruses. Furthermore, a disinfecting effect of laundry in a simulated washing cycle has been investigated. Results At a concentration of 10% and in presence of 1.5% citric acid, acetic acid showed a reduction of > 5-log steps according to the specifications of DIN EN 1040 and DIN EN 1275 for the following microorganisms: P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, K. pneumoniae, E. hirae and A. brasiliensis. For MRSA a logarithmic reduction of 3.19 was obtained. Tests on surfaces according to DIN EN 13697 showed a complete reduction (> 5-log steps) for P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, E. hirae, A. brasiliensis and C. albicans at an acetic acid concentration of already 5%. Virucidal efficacy tests according to DIN EN 14476 and DIN EN 16777 showed a reduction of ≥4-log-steps against the Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) for acetic acid concentrations of 5% or higher. The results suggest that acetic acid does not have a disinfecting effect on microorganisms in a dosage that is commonly used for cleaning. However, this can be achieved by increasing the concentration of acetic acid used, especially when combined with citric acid. Conclusions Our results show a disinfecting effect of acetic acid in a concentration of 10% and in presence of 1.5% citric acid against a variety of microorganisms. A virucidal effect against enveloped viruses could also be proven. Furthermore, the results showed a considerable antimicrobial effect of acetic acid when used in domestic laundry procedures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:27:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-31e9c706063042f68244420e8076bae5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T20:27:33Z |
| publishDate | 2020-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-31e9c706063042f68244420e8076bae52022-12-21T18:13:41ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802020-08-012011910.1186/s12866-020-01948-8Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care proceduresMarc-Kevin Zinn0Dirk Bockmühl1Faculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied SciencesFaculty of Life Sciences, Rhine-Waal University of Applied SciencesAbstract Background Acetic acid has been used to clean and disinfect surfaces in the household for many decades. The antimicrobial efficacy of cleaning procedures can be considered particularly important for young, old, pregnant, immunocompromised people, but may also concern other groups, particularly with regards to the COVID-19 pandemics. This study aimed to show that acetic acid exhibit an antibacterial and antifungal activity when used for cleaning purposes and is able to destroy certain viruses. Furthermore, a disinfecting effect of laundry in a simulated washing cycle has been investigated. Results At a concentration of 10% and in presence of 1.5% citric acid, acetic acid showed a reduction of > 5-log steps according to the specifications of DIN EN 1040 and DIN EN 1275 for the following microorganisms: P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, L. monocytogenes, K. pneumoniae, E. hirae and A. brasiliensis. For MRSA a logarithmic reduction of 3.19 was obtained. Tests on surfaces according to DIN EN 13697 showed a complete reduction (> 5-log steps) for P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus, E. hirae, A. brasiliensis and C. albicans at an acetic acid concentration of already 5%. Virucidal efficacy tests according to DIN EN 14476 and DIN EN 16777 showed a reduction of ≥4-log-steps against the Modified Vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) for acetic acid concentrations of 5% or higher. The results suggest that acetic acid does not have a disinfecting effect on microorganisms in a dosage that is commonly used for cleaning. However, this can be achieved by increasing the concentration of acetic acid used, especially when combined with citric acid. Conclusions Our results show a disinfecting effect of acetic acid in a concentration of 10% and in presence of 1.5% citric acid against a variety of microorganisms. A virucidal effect against enveloped viruses could also be proven. Furthermore, the results showed a considerable antimicrobial effect of acetic acid when used in domestic laundry procedures.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-020-01948-8Acetic acidAntimicrobialAntifungalAntiviralDomestic hygiene |
| spellingShingle | Marc-Kevin Zinn Dirk Bockmühl Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures BMC Microbiology Acetic acid Antimicrobial Antifungal Antiviral Domestic hygiene |
| title | Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| title_full | Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| title_fullStr | Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| title_short | Did granny know best? Evaluating the antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| title_sort | did granny know best evaluating the antibacterial antifungal and antiviral efficacy of acetic acid for home care procedures |
| topic | Acetic acid Antimicrobial Antifungal Antiviral Domestic hygiene |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12866-020-01948-8 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marckevinzinn didgrannyknowbestevaluatingtheantibacterialantifungalandantiviralefficacyofaceticacidforhomecareprocedures AT dirkbockmuhl didgrannyknowbestevaluatingtheantibacterialantifungalandantiviralefficacyofaceticacidforhomecareprocedures |