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Did Granny know best? Evaluating the Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral Efficacy of Acetic Acid for Home Care Procedures.
Dirk Bockmuehl
Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8158-521X
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Microbiology.
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.
Keywords
acetic acid, antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, domestic hygiene
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CURRENT STATUS: Published
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Posted 19 Aug, 2020
Published
On 26 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 16 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 14 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 22 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 02 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 01 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 23 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 17 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 27 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 May, 2020
First submitted
On 07 May, 2020
Metrics
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Subject Areas
Applied & Industrial Microbiology
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This preprint is under consideration at BMC Microbiology. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research article
Did Granny know best? Evaluating the Antibacterial, Antifungal and Antiviral Efficacy of Acetic Acid for Home Care Procedures.
Dirk Bockmuehl
Hochschule Rhein-Waal
Corresponding Author
ORCiD: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8158-521X
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Published
Version 3
Posted 19 Aug, 2020
Published
On 26 Aug, 2020
No community comments so far
Submission checks complete
On 16 Aug, 2020
Editorial decision: Accept
On 14 Aug, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Minor revision
On 22 Jul, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 19 Jul, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 12 Jul, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 12 Jul, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 10 Jul, 2020
Editor assigned
On 02 Jul, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 01 Jul, 2020
Editor invited
On 01 Jul, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 23 Jun, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 20 Jun, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 17 Jun, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 27 May, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 27 May, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 22 May, 2020
Editor assigned
On 20 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 14 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 13 May, 2020
First submitted
On 07 May, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Applied & Industrial Microbiology
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
View the published version at BMC Microbiology.
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.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4