Peracetic acid-based disinfectant is the most appropriate solution for a biological decontamination procedure of responders and healthcare workers in the field environment.

AIMS: An effective decontamination procedure of personnel wearing personal protective equipment is required by CBRN responders and healthcare workers when dealing with biological warfare agents or natural outbreaks caused by highly contagious pathogens. This study aimed to identify critical factors affecting the efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA)-based disinfectants and products containing either hydrogen peroxide or sodium hypochlorite under the same conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The influence of concentration, application (contact) time, erroneous human behaviour, interfering substance, technical assets and weather conditions on disinfection efficacy against Bacillus subtilis spores were assessed in 14 experimental groups. Residual contamination of protective suits was measured to provide responders with readily understandable information (up to 100 colony forming units classified a suit as disinfected). Weather conditions, short application time and erroneous human behaviour substantially affected the effectiveness of PAAs (P < 0·05). Non-PAA-based disinfectants (either liquid or foam) did not reach comparable efficacy (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Peracetic acid was effective at a concentration of 6400-8200 ppm and an application time of 4 min. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study provides operationally relevant data for the use of PAA-based disinfectants in preparedness planning and management of biological incidents and natural outbreaks.

Detection panel for identification of twelve hemorrhagic viruses using real-time RT-PCR.

BACKGROUND: Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses from four viral families and develop diseases with high fatality rates. However, no commercial diagnostic assay for these pathogens is available. FINDINGS: We developed real-time RT-PCR assays for viruses Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Guanarito, Machupo, Junin, Sabiá, Seoul, Puumala, Hantaan, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus and Rift Valley fever virus. The assays were optimized for identical reaction conditions and can be performed using several types of real-time PCR instruments, both capillary and plate, including a portable Ruggedized Advanced Pathogen Identification Device (R.A.P.I.D.) (Idaho Technology, Inc.). CONCLUSIONS: In combination with primers and probes from previously published studies, we present a simple system for rapid identification of hemorrhagic filoviruses, arenaviruses and bunyaviruses with sufficient sensitivity for first contact laboratory and diagnosis under field conditions.