Decontamination of prion-contaminated surfaces with phenols

Abstract

A method of decontaminating a surface or liquid which is contaminated with prions includes treating the surface with a composition which includes one or more phenol. Phenols which are particularly effective include p-chloro-m-xylanol, thymol, triclosan, 4-chloro, 3-methylphenol, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorophene, 2,2-methyl-bis(4-chlorophenol), and p-phenylphenol.

1 . A method of treating a body which is contaminated with prions, the method comprising: 
 contacting the body with a composition comprising a phenol to inactivate prions on the body.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol includes at least one of the group consisting of p-chloro-m-xylanol, thymol, triclosan, 4-chloro, 3-methylphenol, pentachlorophenol, hexachlorophene, 2,2-5 methyl-bis(4-chlorophenol), p-phenylphenol, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the composition further includes at least one of o-phenylphenol and o-benzyl-p-chlorophenol.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the phenol is at a concentration of at least 0.005M.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol is at a concentration of up to about 0.2M.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol has a log P c  value of between 2 and 6.5.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the phenol has a log P c  value between 2 and 5.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the phenol has a log P c  value of at least 4.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition includes a phenol at a concentration of at least about 10%.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition includes a soluble inorganic salt.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the soluble salt includes sodium chloride.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sodium salt is present at a concentration of at least 2% by weight.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol includes OPP in a solution that includes brine.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol includes PCMX.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the phenol complexes with the prions and precipitates.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the phenol has minimal solubility.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the phenol includes o-phenylphenol.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a surface and the method includes contacting the surface with the composition comprising the phenol to inactivate prions on the surface.  
     
     
         19 . A method of determining the effectiveness of a phenol-based decontaminant composition on a material which is contaminated with prions comprising: 
 combining a solution of the phenol-based decontaminant with a protein material; and    determining a measure of the phenol taken up by the protein material; and    determining the effectiveness of the composition based on the amount of phenol taken up.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the protein material includes at least one of a prion-containing material and bovine serum albumin.