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Related Experiment Videos

Virus survival on inanimate surfaces.

M C Mahl, C Sadler

    Canadian Journal of Microbiology
    |June 1, 1975
    PubMed
    Summary

    Viruses like adenovirus and poliovirus can persist on hard surfaces for over 8 weeks, especially in dry, room-temperature conditions. This highlights the significant role of fomites in viral transmission.

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    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Environmental Microbiology
    • Infectious Disease Transmission

    Background:

    • Hard, inanimate surfaces (fomites) are common in many environments.
    • Understanding viral persistence on fomites is crucial for infection control.
    • Various environmental factors can influence virus survival outside a host.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the environmental persistence of multiple virus types on various hard surfaces.
    • To determine the impact of relative humidity, temperature, and surface type on viral survival.
    • To assess the potential role of fomites in virus transmission.

    Main Methods:

    • Testing the survival of specific viruses (adenovirus, poliovirus, herpes simplex, vaccinia, coxsackie) on different hard surfaces (glass, vinyl asbestos tile, ceramic tile, stainless steel).
    • Exposing contaminated surfaces to controlled conditions of varying relative humidity and temperature.
    • Quantifying viral viability over extended periods.

    Main Results:

    • No significant differences in virus survival were observed across the tested hard surfaces.
    • Under low humidity and room temperature, adenovirus, poliovirus, and herpes simplex virus remained viable for at least 8 weeks.
    • Vaccinia and coxsackie viruses survived for a minimum of 2 weeks under similar conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • Hard surfaces can support prolonged viral viability, independent of the specific material.
    • Environmental conditions, particularly low humidity and room temperature, significantly enhance virus persistence on fomites.
    • The extended survival of viruses on hard surfaces underscores their importance as a route for disease transmission.

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