The contamination of surfaces in the environment associated with a higher risk of hospital infections. Bacteria and viruses can live on inanimate surfaces for up to several months and in the absence of adequate environmental hygiene measures and hand hygiene practices, hospital environment may become a reservoir for serious pathogens.
Flu viruses
Flu viruses capable of being transferred to hands and causing an infection can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses can survive on tissues for only 15 minutes Flu viruses can also survive as droplets in the air for several hours; low temperatures increase their survival in the air.
Stomach bugs
There are many bugs that can cause a stomach/bowel issues. These include bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter, as well as viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus. Salmonella and campylobacter survive for short periods of around 1-4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. Norovirus and C. difficile, however, can survive for much longer. In one study, C. difficile was shown to survive for five months. Norovirus can survive for days or weeks on hard surfaces. When someone with norovirus vomits, the virus is distributed in small droplets in the air. These droplets can settle on surfaces, causing the virus to spread.
MRSA and other multidrug resistant organisms
The MRSA and other MDR organisms can survive for days to up to 8 weeks on surfaces. They can live on surfaces for longer than some other bacteria and viruses because they survive better without moisture. Generally, MDR bacteria survive for longer on hard surfaces than on soft surfaces.
Herpes
Herpes viruses from cold sores around the mouth can survive for two hours on the skin. If your patient has a cold sore, encourage the patient not to touch it. If patient does touch it, ensure hand washing immediately afterwards
Flu viruses
Flu viruses capable of being transferred to hands and causing an infection can survive on hard surfaces for 24 hours. Infectious flu viruses can survive on tissues for only 15 minutes Flu viruses can also survive as droplets in the air for several hours; low temperatures increase their survival in the air.
Stomach bugs
There are many bugs that can cause a stomach/bowel issues. These include bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Clostridium difficile and Campylobacter, as well as viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus. Salmonella and campylobacter survive for short periods of around 1-4 hours on hard surfaces or fabrics. Norovirus and C. difficile, however, can survive for much longer. In one study, C. difficile was shown to survive for five months. Norovirus can survive for days or weeks on hard surfaces. When someone with norovirus vomits, the virus is distributed in small droplets in the air. These droplets can settle on surfaces, causing the virus to spread.
MRSA and other multidrug resistant organisms
The MRSA and other MDR organisms can survive for days to up to 8 weeks on surfaces. They can live on surfaces for longer than some other bacteria and viruses because they survive better without moisture. Generally, MDR bacteria survive for longer on hard surfaces than on soft surfaces.
Herpes
Herpes viruses from cold sores around the mouth can survive for two hours on the skin. If your patient has a cold sore, encourage the patient not to touch it. If patient does touch it, ensure hand washing immediately afterwards
