The Application of Ozone Gas in Inactivation of Surface and Airborne SARS-CoV-2 in Hospitals: A Systematic Review.

The outbreak of COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a global public health threat. As high-risk environments for transmission, hospitals require effective methods to inactivate the virus on surfaces and in the air to prevent further spread among hospitals. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the use of ozone gas to inactivate surface and airborne SARS-CoV-2 in hospital settings. A systematic literature search was performed in databases including PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science from 2019 to 2024. Studies that assessed the use of ozone gas to inactivate SARS-CoV-2 in hospital settings were included. The quality assessment of the studies was done using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) tool. A total of 10 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. Studies have reported that ozone effectively inactivates SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and air in hospital environments. However, there were variations in ozone concentration, exposure time, and relative humidity (RH) used in each study. Ozone demonstrates promise as an effective disinfectant for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and air in hospital environments. It should be focused on determining the optimal conditions for maximum efficiency and establishing relevant protocols in terms of human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]