• Sara Dovrat, Ela Kashi-Zagdoun, Zvia Soufiev, Ella Mendelson, and Tzion Schlossberg.
• Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
• Isr Med Assoc J. 2022 Feb 1; 24 (2): 80-84.

BackgroundInfections in neonates with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) following circumcision due to Metzitzah Be'Peh (MBP) performed by a Mohel occur each year in small numbers. One solution to this problem is the use of a mucus extractor device instead of MBP, which has been authorized by some rabbis. Yet, using a mucus extractor remains controversial among ultra-Orthodox Jews; thus, creating a need for additional solutions.ObjectivesTo seek to reduce HSV-1 infection of neonates due to MBP.MethodsWe tested several oral rinse solutions for their ability to destroy virus infectivity following incubation for 30 seconds and using plaque reduction assays.ResultsCorsodyl, Decapinol, and Listerine® all destroyed plaques formation of spiked virus, while Gengigel and Tantum Verde were found to be less effective. We focused specifically on Listerine® due to its efficacy in eliminating contagious HSV-1 from saliva after a 30-second oral rinse. Five different products of Listerine® reduced the infectivity of a spiked virus by more than 4 orders of magnitude in 30 seconds. We also showed that Listerine (up to 7% v/v) can stay in the mouth but did not harm living cells and therefore will not cause any damage to the injured tissue.ConclusionsSignificant reduction in cases of infection with HSV-1 due to MBP can be achieved if Mohalim consistently adopt the practice of careful mouth washing with Listerine® just before performing MBP.

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