06 May 2009, Posted by christie in Misc Bytes, 0 Comments

Fomites: A disgusting source of swine flu and almost impossible to avoid.

With the swine flu pandemic, we’re all very busy avoiding breathing in other people’s coughs these days, but we’re forgetting something very important: fomites.  Fomites is the term for inanimate objects like clothing, blankets, etc., that can transmit a contagious disease.   Since I have a background in microbiology, I see almost everything as a fomite!   And now maybe since our consciousness is raised regarding this swine flu we don’t want to catch, I hope you will also become aware of fomites and try not to let them make you sick.  Fomites are an important source of disease. You don’t have to get sneezed on to catch a respiratory or stomach virus.

Last year, I was in a group that was trying out extreme programming. Included in that is paired programmers, where one person types while the other one reads it and thinks about the problem too, then the typist moves the keyboard over where the other programmer can have a turn at it. But now that we’re so conscious of not catching swine flu, it occurs to me: watch someone scratch his head, wipe his nose, eat a muffin, and continue using that keyboard. I’d really hate to see a culture of what’s on people’s keyboards!

Think about grocery stores! The cart handles are definitely a great source for viruses to hang out. Where do you go when you find out you have the flu or a stomach bug? I’ll tell you: the last place you stop by before going home to “die” is the grocery store. So there you go with your feverish hands all over the shopping cart handle. And then the next person comes along hanging onto that same cart for dear life, perhaps eating stolen grapes with those same hands, putting those viruses directly into their gastrointestinal tract. So – as soon as I get home from any public place, but especially the grocery store, I wash my hands thoroughly before I touch my face or eat anything. We hear “wash your hands often” and it really sounds kind of irrelevant to anything, but that is exactly the reason. Fomites. You touch what someone else touched, and their touch left that item full of viruses.

Sorry for the disgusting topic, but be aware of the “gifts” that are being left behind by others on doorknobs, escalator railings, and everything else, and wash your hands often!