ICT: Contact Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: What Role Do Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment Play?

Infection Control Today recently published an article written by infection prevention expert, Joan Hebden, MS, RN, CIC, FAPIC, about the transmission methods of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19.

Contact Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: What Role Do Surfaces and Personal Protective Equipment Play?

Excerpt: “Viruses were present on the computer keyboard 68% of the time, the call button 57% of the time, and the computer mouse 50% of the time. Every surface swabbed at the end of the 3-hour observation period tested positive for virus at least once for each virus group. Of note, virus concentrations on the IV pole hanger and telephone were positively correlated with the number of times a HCP touched those surfaces. The authors concluded that HCPs are at risk for contracting respiratory viral infections during patient care and can disseminate these infections through contact with contaminated surfaces.”

Click here to read the article online