Surfaces and the spread of infection in homes – new research by IFH

The IFH paper outlines a need for a risk management approach to hygiene that includes surfaces as a key issue. The authors recognize the “touching surfaces frequently touched by other people” as one of the key 9 moments in daily activities where harmful microbes are likely to be spread. Surfaces associated with the other key moments, such as food handling, are also noted to play a large role in the risk of microbial spread.

The authors also address the role of surfaces in the spread of COVID-19. An excerpt:

For COVID-19, airborne spread is likely the main driver, although opinions differ on the relative importance of aerosols which can travel a considerable distance and larger respiratory droplets where close contact is required. Opinion also differs about risks from hand contact with surfaces relative to airborne routes, some concluding that surface spread is negligible. Whilst this might be so in public spaces, particularly outdoors, where surfaces are rarely touched, it does not apply in home settings (thought to be the highest risk setting for transmission) where there are frequent opportunities to touch surfaces recently touched by others.

Read the full abstract and download the report at the IFH website.