Brief Report: The Virucidal Efficacy of Oral Rinse Components Against SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro

The ability of widely-available mouthwashes to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in vitro was tested using a protocol capable of detecting a 5-log10 reduction in infectivity, under conditions mimicking the naso/oropharynx. During a 30 second exposure, two rinses containing cetylpyridinium-chloride and a third with ethanol/ethyl lauroyl arginate eliminated live virus to EN14476 standards (>4-log10 reduction), while others with ethanol/essential oils and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) eliminated virus by 2-3-log10. Chlorhexidine or ethanol alone displayed little or no ability to inactivate virus. Studies are warranted to determine whether these formulations can inactivate virus in the human oropharynx in vivo , and whether this might impact transmission risk.