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Unseen pathogen pathways: the impact of high-touch surfaces in public spaces
L M Ackerley1, S M Cooper2, S E Upson3
1Public Health Company Ltd., Padstow, UK.
Background:
Surface contamination via hands plays an important role in pathogen spread in public spaces, particularly where numerous people interact with shared surfaces and objects. This study aimed to identify frequently touched surfaces, examine their interconnections, and evaluate the spread of a surrogate virus in a hotel lobby.
Methods:
In a working hotel lobby (in Arizona, USA) a total of 30 h of observation were performed to identify the surfaces and objects touched by hotel users. The observed area included the lobby entrance, check-in desk and other communal areas. The sequence of touches performed by each observed individual was recorded, from which surface-to-surface interactions and fomite interconnections were determined. An entry doorknob and first floor elevator button were seeded with a bacteriophage (Phi X174) tracer; 4 h later, 25 surfaces were swabbed to determine tracer distribution and contamination levels.
Results:
A total of 324 individuals performed 627 touches of 13 different fomites. The elevator button and front desk counter were the most frequently touched (32% and 22%, respectively). More than half (56%) touched 2 or more surfaces. Touches from the elevator button to other surfaces and from other surfaces to the elevator button made up 50% of all interactions.From two seeded sites, the tracer spread to 13 surfaces over 4 h. The most contaminated surfaces were tables, counter tops and door handles.
Conclusions:
The significant role of hands in transferring pathogens across frequently touched and highly interconnected surfaces in a hotel lobby was demonstrated through observations and sampling, highlighting the opportunity for hand and surface hygiene interventions to break the chain of infection in this hotel setting. These findings have implications for the optimisation of hygiene interventions in other hotel settings and are also applicable to similar public spaces, where common shared surfaces and objects (such as front desk counters and elevator buttons) could be targeted.
Insights
Hands spread pathogens on frequently touched surfaces in hotel lobbies. Targeting high-contact fomites like elevator buttons and front desks with hygiene interventions can break infection chains.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Public Health
- Environmental Hygiene
Background:
- Hands play a critical role in pathogen transmission in public spaces with shared surfaces.
- Hotel lobbies are high-traffic areas where numerous individuals interact with communal objects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify frequently touched surfaces in a hotel lobby.
- To map the interconnections between these surfaces.
- To evaluate the spread of a surrogate virus on these fomites.
Main Methods:
- 30 hours of direct observation in a hotel lobby to record surface touches.
- Analysis of surface-to-surface interactions and fomite interconnections.
- Seeding of an elevator button and doorknob with a bacteriophage tracer to track contamination spread.
Main Results:
- 324 individuals made 627 touches on 13 fomites; elevator buttons (32%) and front desk counters (22%) were most touched.
- 56% of individuals touched two or more surfaces, indicating significant cross-contamination potential.
- Tracer spread from seeded sites to 13 surfaces within 4 hours, with tables, countertops, and door handles showing highest contamination.
Conclusions:
- Hands are significant vectors for pathogen transfer on interconnected surfaces in hotel lobbies.
- Hygiene interventions focused on frequently touched and highly interconnected surfaces are effective.
- Findings are applicable to optimizing hygiene in hotels and similar public spaces.
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