Survival of influenza virus on human fingers

Abstract

Indirect transmission of the influenza virus via finger contamination with respiratory mucus droplets has been hypothesized to contribute to transmission in the community. Under laboratory conditions, influenza-infected respiratory droplets were reconstituted as close as possible to natural conditions. We investigated experimentally the survival of influenza A (H3N2) and A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses on human fingers. Infectious virus was easily recoverable on all fingers 1 min after fingertip contamination but then decreased very rapidly. After 30 min, infectious virus was detectable in only a small minority of subjects. Infectious viruses were detected for a longer period of time when droplets of larger size containing a higher number of particles were tested or when the viral concentration increased. A rapid decrease in infectiousness was observed when droplet integrity was disrupted. Our findings could help to set up the promotion of hand hygiene to prevent influenza hand contamination.

Face touching: A frequent habit that has implications for hand hygiene

“…16 In particular, clinicians caring for infectious pediatric patients with high shedding concentrations 17,18 may be at risk of acquiring an infection if they have a high level of facetouching behavior. 19 S aureus is a common pathogen prevalent in both community and health care settings. Colonization of the nasal mucous membranes with S aureus is common and ranges from 20%-30% in health care and community settings.…”

Waves of El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Influenza Pandemics

“…Transmission of influenza A viruses in human populations occurs via aerosols (Lindsley et al, 2010b), droplets (Morawska, 2006), or direct contact with infected secretions (Mubareka et al, 2009;Thomas et al, 2014). Influenza particle aerosols are generated when infected subjects cough, sneeze, breath, or talk (Nikitin et al, 2014).…”

Survival of rhinoviruses on human fingers

“…Participants and finger contamination procedure Six specialized laboratory collaborators (technicians and MD/ PhD graduates) were recruited on a voluntary basis as previously described [22]. The protocol was approved by the institutional review board of the University Hospitals of Geneva.…”

“…A 2-μL drop of viral suspension of human RV-B14 mixed with respiratory secretions was deposited on the fingertips of each participant. This volume represents the mean size of a large respiratory droplet and can be easily reproduced [22]. For each subject, nine drops containing rhinovirus at different concentrations (three HC, three AC, three LC) were deposited and one negative control (mucus only).…”