Evaluation of Virex® II 256 and Virex® Tb as Disinfectants of the Dimorphic Fungi Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii.

To date, limited published data exists regarding the efficacy of commonly used disinfectants in inactivating the Risk Group 3 dimorphic fungal pathogens, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. Newer generation quaternary ammonium compounds, like Virex® II 256 and Virex® Tb, have not been previously evaluated. Herein, these disinfectants are evaluated against 10% bleach and 70% ethanol, for their ability to inactivate 5×107 arthroconidial spores of C. immitis RS or C. posadasii strain Silveira within 2, 5, 10 or 20 minutes contact time in aqueous solution. Evidence is provided that both Virex® II 256 and Virex® Tb are highly effective alternatives to 10% bleach or 70% ethanol for the disinfection of 5×107 arthroconidia of Coccidioides spp. within 2 minutes of contact time. 70% ethanol was seen as less effective in killing C.immitis RS arthroconidia and both 70% ethanol and 10% bleach were seen as less effective than the other disinfectants in killing C. posadasii strain Silveira, as longer contact times were required to completely inactivate the same number of arthroconidia.