fomite
- noun
- /ˈfoʊmaɪt/
- Specialized
:
fómite
- Transmission of pathogens may occur directly by person-to-person contact or indirectly through contact with fomites, e.g., railings, high chairs, diaper change tables, toys, or pacifiers.
- contact with fomites
And that sort of transmission is called fomite transmission.
- And that sort of transmission is called fomite transmission.
Examples
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Bacteria can survive on fomites like doorknobs and light switches, making these objects potential sources of infection.
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Environmental organisms, such as P. aeruginosa, can be spread through bed linens, contaminated water, utensils, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, and other fomites.
Academic text (2005) -
And that sort of transmission is called fomite transmission.
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Fomite or contact droplet transmission of the virus between cages was considered unlikely.
Academic text (1995) -
Norovirus is primarily transferred through the fecal-oral route, though the CDC (2006) also notes that environmental and fomite contamination may act as a source of infection.
Academic text (2009) -
Horizontal infections, acquired through direct contact with infected rodents or indirect contact with contaminated fomites, can lead rodents to shed infectious virus for a few weeks to a few months.
Academic text (2014) -
To reduce the spread of germs, it is important to regularly clean fomites such as keyboards, phones, and countertops.
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Healthcare workers wear gloves to prevent infection from fomites that may carry harmful pathogens.
Synonyms
4
7.9
A thing that carries germs from one person to another
How Likely
- Specialized
1
4.9
- Specialized
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Etymology
Fomite comes from the Latin word fomes, meaning 'tinder' or 'material that helps a fire start'. Think of a small piece of dry wood that makes a fire spread — a fomite is like that for germs, so the word means an object that can carry infection.