Question

Hydrogen peroxide kills harmful pathogens and various forms of bacteria by destroying their cell walls, through a process called oxidation. However, since SARS-CoV-2 is acellular, not composed of a defined cellular structure, would hydrogen peroxide still function as an antiseptic in this case?

Answer 1

Hydrogen peroxide may not function as an antiseptic against SARS-CoV-2, but it has broad-spectrum efficacy against viruses in general.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of SARS-CoV-2, which is an acellular virus, hydrogen peroxide may not function as an antiseptic in the same way it does against bacteria.

This is because hydrogen peroxide works by destroying the cell walls of bacteria through oxidation, which the virus lacks since it doesn't have a defined cellular structure. However, hydrogen peroxide has been found to have broad-spectrum efficacy against viruses in general, so it may still have some effect on the virus itself.