Microbe Clean Basic Understanding Course

Viruses are not alive in the conventional sense — they replicate only inside a host cell and cannot reproduce independently on surfaces

Virus classification by type: non-enveloped viruses (norovirus, adenovirus) are harder to kill than enveloped viruses (influenza, coronaviruses, herpes) because they lack the lipid membrane that disinfectants target

Transmission routes: direct contact, respiratory droplets, aerosols, fomites (contaminated surfaces), and faecal-oral transmission

Surface survival: influenza can survive on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours; norovirus up to several days on porous surfaces; SARS-CoV-2 up to 72 hours on plastic and steel under controlled conditions

Disinfectant selection: always verify the product's listed claim against the specific virus — not all disinfectants are effective against all virus types

Field Action: When responding to a confirmed or suspected viral contamination event, identify the specific virus type before selecting a disinfectant. A product that lists influenza on its label is not necessarily effective against norovirus.