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Significant Role of Fomites in Spreading of Viral Disease and Its Preventive Measures

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Significant Role of Fomites in Spreading of Viral Disease and Its Preventive Measures Vol 11, Issue 5,May/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 Significant role of fomites in spreading of viral disease and its preventive measures Ranjana Verma [email protected] Assistant Professor (Department of Zoology) B.L.P. Govt. P.G. College, MHOW (M.P) Abstract— Threats of viral infection are counted in transmission of infection, but recently it increasing day by day. Viruses multiply by has been proved that fomites play an important role using host cell machinery and it has either DNA also. Viral disease and their transmission is or RNA as a genetic material. Till date most of complex and very tedious to trace out. the viruses are mystery among the scientist. The fomite route of infection denotes to exposure Present paper deals with the significance role of provided by touching contaminated surfaces fomites in spreading of viral disease. A fomite is inevitably and following contact to facial mucus any non- living object or sources that, come in membrane of the patient [1] [2]. contact with infectious agent or contaminated Respiratory viruses like (SARS-CoV, H5N1, and with pathogen, and in turn transfer infection or COVID 19) responsible for acute respiratory disease to new host. Fomites exposure mainly infections (ARIs) and these are responsible for includes a secondary path of contamination or many epidemic and pandemic diseases. Respiratory exposure like oral or direct contact for pathogen viruses are supposed to be resides in mucus to infect the new host e.g. People unknowingly membrane; mainly in respiratory secretions of the touch surface in many places daily, and in this suffered person and transmit through coughing and way they can prone to infection by touching sneezing. Previous study suggest that there are infected places and surface, and following their three potential route of transmission of any facial mucosal membrane. respiratory infection first long range air born route, close contact route and most important through Keywords— Viral diseases, spreading, levels of fomites. [1] [3] [4]. Fomites are non- living matter/ infection, fomites, modes of infection, object sheltering and potentially able to transmit precautions. disease [3] [4]. 1. INTRODUCTION 2. AIM AND OBJECTIVE Viruses are microscopic, obligatory, infectious Present paper mainly investigating the significant organism. The threats of viral infection are role of fomites in disease transmission and trace increasing day by day. Viruses multiply by using out routes of virus transmission to prevent/ or host cell machinery and it has either DNA or RNA diminishing its further infection. Present study may as a genetic material. Till date most of the viruses help helpful like a precautionary tool or helpful in are mystery among the scientist. Present paper breaking chain of infection at community level. deals with the significance role of fomites in Infectious Disease Transmission Routes: spreading of viral disease. A fomite is any non- living object or sources that, come in contact with 1. Vector-borne: Pathogens like malaria, yellow infectious agent or contaminated with pathogen, fever, dengue intervention: insecticides, and in turn transfer infection or disease to new environmental mitigation, bed nets, window host. Fomites exposure mainly includes a screens, insect repellents secondary path of contamination or exposure like 2. Common Vehicle: Pathogens: norovirus, oral or direct contact for pathogen to infect the new enterovirus, rotavirus, poliovirus, rhinovirus, host e.g. People unknowingly touch surface in hepatitis A Interventions: water and food many places daily, and in this way they can prone quality standards, hand and environmental to infection by touching infected places and hygiene, donor blood and organ screening, surface, and following their facial mucosal equipment sterilization. (Iatrogenic; membrane. Previously fomites route was negligibly contaminated medical susceptible host www.jespublication.com Page No:333 Vol 11, Issue 5,May/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 device, blood, or tissue) (Food borne; that there are number of routes fomites can be contaminated foodstuffs , susceptible host) spread infectious disease, like direct contact with 3. Airborne: Pathogens: influenza, measles, and body fluid, hand shake or other body part, fomite; rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus an inanimate object and emitted air born particles Interventions: respiration masks, social of coughing, sneezing, talking etc. [7] [8]. The distancing, closing public locations, blocking intensity of infection multiplies due to dense expirations, mechanical -alteration, and population and their rapid mobility which in turn ultraviolet radiation. (infected host, impossible to trace out disease spread [9]. susceptible host ;susceptible host) Viral diseases are managed by complete 4. Contact: Pathogens: rotavirus, rhinovirus, understanding of their transmission in environment norovirus enterovirus, hepatitis, human [10], earlier studies confirmed that SARS can be immune-viruses, Interventions: hand and and mostly spreads through fine particles in the air environmental hygiene, pharmaceuticals, [11]. Fomite based infection mainly include, prophalxysis. (Direct; infected host infected surface in hospitals [12], cross susceptible host) (Indirect; infected host, contamination in commercial kitchen during food fomite, t susceptible host) (Vertical; infected preparation [13] and from infected clothes in host (mother), susceptible host (prenatal laundry [14], such type of risk can be minimize by child). maintaining hand hygiene [15]. Fig 2 Levels of disease transmission Transmission of virus can be understood by following steps. Firstly, the infectious micro- organism dropped from a diseased person to the Fig. 1 Transmission of diseases; infection cycle. fomite. This may be direct (through coughing, sneezing large droplets are settle) or indirect Fomite plays a significant task in disease (through hands; due inadequate hand hygiene), transmission [4]. Any inanimate object which is now these infectious agent resided on the surface capable of sheltering, anchor, absorbing and for a long time and it persist over there, and lastly transmitting infectious microorganisms [5][6]. when it exposed to any susceptible host through Infected surface contact precautions are in standing any mode by touching hands (adult person touches instruction manual published by World Health his face 10 to 25 times in per hour; an average), by Organization. The complexity of infection is mobile phones etc., Influenza viruses are capable to increased due to incomplete knowledge of indirect survive for days and potentially strong to spread transmission (fomite route of transmission). infection e.g. bank notes[16] . This might be the Indirect transmission due to intermediate fomite certain route of transmission of viral diseases. The means, person to person transmission via an importance of hand hygiene; washing hands with inanimate object act as a carrier of infectious soap and clean water to minimize risk of infection disease. According to many studies it is confirmed is well mentioned [17]. Regular hand hygiene may www. jespublication.com Page No:334 Vol 11, Issue 5,May/ 2020 ISSN NO: 0377-9254 reduce infectious microorganism on hands [18] 3. CONCLIUSION studies showed that role of fomites in diseases transmission [19]. Viruses are microscopic, obligatory, infectious organism. Many viral diseases are life threating. To prevent disease transmission it is required to Fomites play an important role in spreading the break the chain of transmission, and to trace out its diseases. Present paper discussed the role of route via, its agent, source, type of transmission, fomites in disease transmission. This paper show most susceptible host, mode of entry into the host that fomites are a public health risk when body. Previously Common chlorine and connected with public places, food, currency etc. hypochlorite is used for disinfection but recently Author emphasized every persons should maintain non-chlorine chemical disinfectants have been personal hygiene and follow some thumb rule introduced in to the market, such as peroxyacetic presented in above study. acid, glutaraldehyde, sodium hydroxide, ozone gas, and calcium oxide [20]. Some of these are 4. REFERNCES commonly used in disinfecting. There are some thumb rule to prevent infection are; [1] Nicas, M. and Jones, R.M. “Relative contributions of four exposure pathways to 1. Maintain regular hand hygiene: wash hand influenza infection risk”, Risk Analysis. 29 (2009): regularly with soap and clean water. 1292-1303. 2. Environmental Cleanliness: clean floor, stair [2] Jones, R.M. and Brosseau, L.M. “Aerosol case, door knobs, handles, lift button, doorbell with transmission of infectious disease.” Journal of alcohol based disinfect liquids regularly. Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 57 3. Proper disposal of medical waste: Medical waste (2015): 501-508. should be disposed according to their given [3] Brankston, G. Gitterman, L. Hirji, Z. Lemieux, guideline especially infectious waste. C. and Gardam, M. Transmission of influenza A in 4. Use of PPE kit: Health practitioners are human beings, The Lancet infectious diseases. 7 vulnerable to infection. They must carry PPE (2007): 257-265. (personal protective equipment). [4] Otter, J.A. Yezli, S. Salkeld, J.A. and French, 5. Use of face mask: by using mask (e.g. N95) risk G.L. “Evidence that contaminated surfaces of respiratory viral infection can be minimize. contribute to the transmission of hospital pathogens
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