Within 2 to
4 hours between 40 to 60% of the fomites sampled were contaminated with virus.
Using
tracer viruses, researchers found that contamination of just a single doorknob
or table top results in the spread of viruses throughout office buildings,
hotels, and health care facilities. Within 2 to 4 hours, the virus could be
detected on 40 to 60 percent of workers and visitors in the facilities.
Using
tracer viruses, researchers found that contamination of just a single doorknob
or table top results in the spread of viruses throughout office buildings,
hotels, and health care facilities. Within 2 to 4 hours, the virus could be
detected on 40 to 60 percent of workers and visitors in the facilities and
commonly touched objects, according to research presented at the 54th
Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy (ICAAC), an
infectious disease meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
Norovirus
is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the United States,
according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Each year,
it causes an estimated 19-21 million illnesses and contributes to 56,000-71,000
hospitalizations and 570-800 deaths. Touching surfaces or objects contaminated
with norovirus then putting your fingers in your mouth is a common source of
infection.
In the
study, researchers used bacteriophage MS-2 as a surrogate for the human
norovirus, as it is similar in shape, size and resistance to disinfectants. The
phage was placed on 1 to 2 commonly touched surfaces (door knob or table top)
at the beginning of the day in office buildings, conference room and a health
care facility. After various periods of time (2 to 8 hours) they sampled 60 to
100 fomites, surfaces capable of carrying infectious organisms (light switches,
bed rails, table tops, countertops, push buttons, coffee pots handles, sink tap
handles, door knobs, phones and computer equipment), for the phages.
Results
showed that within 2 to 4 hours between 40 to 60% of the fomites sampled were
contaminated with virus. The number of fomites on which virus was detected can be
reduced by 80% or greater using appropriate sanitizers and the concentration of
virus reduced by 99% or more. This data suggest antimicrobial spaces must be
studied and implemented if such an easy spread of contamination should be
stopped.
Source: American
Society for Microbiology. ICCAC 2014
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