Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Are Active Ingredients in Disinfectants Recommended For Use to Inactivate Covid-19 Virus

Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) have been described as a potent combination of organic and inorganic substances. The compound's most common disinfectant uses are as disinfectants for drinking water and as primary cleaning agents for swimming pools and spa facilities. The compound's disinfection potency is similar to that of chlorine. However, like chlorine, its effective removal of microbes and contamination by non-microbial pathogens is relatively poor.

Although quaternary ammonium compounds do not provide strong germicide protection, they have been found to be safe for use in the following applications: as primary cleaning agents in the drinking water treatment facility; as disinfecting agents for swimming pools and spa facilities; and as bactericidal disinfectants for hospitals and health care facilities. In the past, researchers have recommended using quats in lieu of chlorine in water due to the lack of reliable data indicating that quaternary ammonium compounds are as effective as other forms of disinfection.

Researchers have suggested that the combination of quaternary ammonium compounds with other organic or inorganic surfactants provides excellent bactericidal and antifungal protection against several common types of pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and hepatitis virus. It has been found that these compounds improve the cleaning ability of water by more than double when combined with cationic surfactants. In addition, they prevent the growth of both yeast and non-yeast yeast species.

The demand for quaternary ammonium compounds has increased during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In Germany, from 3 January 2020 to 4:47pm CEST, 28 June 2021, there have been 3,726,929 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 90,762 deaths, reported to WHO. As of 19 June 2021, a total of 68,115,795 vaccine doses have been administered. QACs are active ingredients in over 200 disinfectants currently recommended by the U.S. EPA for use to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus.

Researchers also suggest that the combination of quaternary ammonium compounds with cationic surfactants improves the cleaning ability of chlorinated water by more than double when used in combination with trisodium EDTA. These compounds also prevent the growth of both yeast and non-yeast yeast species. Other benefits provided by these disinfectants include: protection against ultraviolet light, which can destroy biological contaminants; reduction of odor and stain; elimination of volatile organic compounds; and a marked improvement in the performance of various UV disinfection processes.

In some industries, researchers have recommended the use of quaternary ammonium compounds as primary disinfectants. These include applications in the marine and environmental industries, hazardous drugs and industrial cleaning applications, food and pharmaceutical processing, the printing and photography industry, dry cleaning, and electrochemical applications. Studies have indicated that the long-term inhalation of higher levels of these compounds might be toxic. Thus, health departments and occupational healthcare professionals are educating their workers about the dangers of these chemicals. They are also urging them not to work with or around these compounds whenever possible.