Can Detergents Effectively Kill COVID-19?

JAKARTA - The government, through the spokesperson for the handling of the Coorona virus outbreak Achmad Yurianto, issued a statement that detergents could destroy the packaging of the corona virus or COVID-19. So, people are advised not to worry about its spread, even though they still have to maintain health.

Researcher in the field of microbiology of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Sugiyono Saputra agrees with this. He said, detergent can destroy the corona virus wrap because it contains the chemical substance Sodium Hypochlorite. In fact, by using these chemicals, not only viruses can be destroyed. Some viruses will also die if exposed to Sodium Hypochlorite.

"Detergent is in the soap, so it is true that the soap itself does not only kill viruses but also bacteria," Sugiyono said when contacted by VOI, Tuesday, March 17.

However, he considered, using bleach to kill COVID-19 was considered more effective. Because, the content of Sodium Hypochlorite in bleaching or bleach is greater than detergents. Moreover, these chemicals are also used as a mixture of disinfectant liquids. Even so, there has been no specific research related to Sodium Hypochlorite can kill COVID-19.

Not only that, several other chemicals can also kill viruses and bacteria. Chlorine or Calcium hypochlorite and 70 percent alcohol is also said to help in killing or preventing the spread of viruses and bacteria.

"If the specifics of the Corona virus don't seem to be (research). Only detergents and bleaching are used for disinfection," Sugiyono said.

Use of Antiseptics

Launching Republika.co.id, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) and The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend the use of antiseptic soap to kill or inhibit the growth of organisms, and reduce the number of microbes further.

Based on the results of in vitro research, the skin cleanser type PVP-I 7.5 percent and PVP-I gargle and mouthwash are effective at killing or at least against camel flu virus (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS). So, infections caused by COVID-19 can be prevented by maintaining good hand and respiratory hygiene.

Murtaza Qasuri from the Medical Director of Mudhiparma South East Asia said that one of the good antiseptics used to maintain hand hygiene is povidone iodine or PVP-I. This is because it has been clinically proven to contain a broad spectrum of viruses, bacteria and pathogenic germs.

"Povidone iodine is an antiseptic that has a broad spectrum, including against viruses such as corona," said Murtaza Qasuri some time ago.

To maintain respiratory hygiene, he explained, it can be done by using natural preparations containing iota caragenan. This substance has an antiviral effect and maintains the cleanliness of the oral cavity and throat by gargling with an antiseptic containing povidone iodine.

"Carragenan iota provides an antiviral effect against a large number of viruses that cause respiratory diseases, including the common cold and influenza, including the human coronavirus," he said.

However, until now, he could not confirm the efficacy against COVID-19 considering that this virus was a newly discovered virus.