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. © 2013 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.
CITATION STYLE
Thomas, Y., Boquete-Suter, P., Koch, D., Pittet, D., & Kaiser, L. (2014). Survival of influenza virus on human fingers. Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-0691.12324
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