Evaluation of virucidal compounds for inactivation of rhinovirus on hands.

Antimicrobial liquids and foams were applied to the hands to determine their virucidal activity against rhinoviruses. Dilute solutions (1%) of iodine in ethyl alcohol or in water were most effective in causing inactivation of rhinovirus when applied immediately after viral contamination. Iodine also had a residual virucidal activity which persisted on the hands for up to 1 h. Less effective inactivation of rhinovirus was observed with foams containing 0.23% hexachlorophene and 58% ethyl alcohol and another containing 0.2% benzalkonium chloride and 50% ethyl alcohol. Ethyl alcohol alone or in a mixture with benzyl alcohol was the least effective preparation tested.