Loading
Infection Control in Healthcare / Infection Control and Ventilation · Journal article
Frontiers in Microbiology · July 30, 2026
Raises a question worth testing. It does not answer one.
This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic knowledge on pathogen persistence and transmission via inanimate surfaces, integrating evidence on contamination sources, pathogen characteristics, surface properties, and environmental factors. It identifies fomites as significant transmission vectors in healthcare settings and highlights persistent knowledge gaps in viable but non-culturable organisms and real-world transmission dynamics, but does not evaluate clinical interventions or present new empirical data.
Narrative review. Healthcare, household, and public settings; no specific patient cohort studied.
Inanimate surfaces contribute to 20–40% of healthcare-associated infections Pathogen persistence on surfaces ranges from hours to months, influenced by biofilm formation, spore production, and structural characteristics Non-porous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic generally support extended bacterial viability
Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.
Clinicians and infection control professionals should recognize surfaces as significant transmission vectors in healthcare settings and expect persistent knowledge gaps in disinfection efficacy and real-world transmission dynamics. The review highlights the need for evidence-based cleaning protocols and detection methods, but does not provide actionable clinical recommendations or comparative effectiveness data.
This is a narrative review synthesizing mechanistic evidence on fomite transmission without presenting original empirical data, primary endpoints, or comparative effectiveness results.
As stated by the source record.
Quoted from the source exactly as published.
Clinicians and infection control professionals should recognize surfaces as significant transmission vectors in healthcare settings and expect persistent knowledge gaps in disinfection efficacy and real-world transmission dynamics. The review highlights the need for evidence-based cleaning protocols and detection methods, but does not provide actionable clinical recommendations or comparative effectiveness data.
Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.
Inanimate surfaces are critical reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms, increasing the risk of infectious disease transmission across healthcare, household, and public settings. This comprehensive review synthesizes current evidence on microbial contamination mechanisms, examining the complex interplay between pathogen characteristics, surface properties, and environmental conditions that govern fomite-mediated transmission. Contamination sources are diverse, originating from human shedding, respiratory secretions, environmental reservoirs, including airborne particles and water drainage systems, as well as contaminated materials such as medications, medical devices, and personal items. Pathogen persistence on surfaces ranges from hours to months, influenced by microorganism-specific attributes such as biofilm formation capacity, spore production, and structural characteristics that distinguish bacterial, viral, and fungal species. Environmental parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, pH, and light exposure, influence patterns of survival. Moisture-rich environments, in particular, enable persistence of Gram-negative bacteria and biofilm development. Surface characteristics, notably porosity, roughness, and material composition, create distinct microenvironments affecting microbial adhesion and persistence. Non-porous surfaces such as stainless steel and plastic generally support extended bacterial viability, whereas porous materials exhibit complex, pathogen-dependent survival patterns. Evidence from experimental studies, epidemiological investigations, and mathematical modeling confirms that inanimate surfaces are significant transmission vectors, particularly in healthcare settings where they contribute to 20–40% of healthcare-associated infections. Critical knowledge gaps persist regarding viable but non-culturable organisms, real-world transmission dynamics, and optimal cleaning/disinfection strategies. Future research priorities include developing advanced detection methods, refining cleaning and disinfection protocols, validating antimicrobial surface technologies, and establishing predictive models of transmission.
Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.