What Is a Fomite?

A fomite is an inanimate object or substance capable of transmitting infectious agents (microorganisms) from one object to another. Once contaminated, fomites may carry microbes for few minutes or several weeks, depending on the type of the microbe and certain circumstances, like air humidity and temperature. Examples of fomites:

• Door knobs
• Faucets, especially in public toilets
• Bus handles
• Computer keyboards
• Phones
• Eating utensils or dishes
• Towels
• Napkins
• Used razors
• Used needles (drug addicts)
• Pens
• Sport equipment
• Clothes
• Toys
• Books
• Paper
• Money

continue reading What Is a Fomite – Definition, Examples of Infection Transmission

What Is Infection?

An infection is an invasion and multiplying of pathogenic microbes in the body tissues in which they are not usually present (1). Pathogenic means capable of causing disease. Infection does not always cause a disease.

Definitions of Infection-Related Terms

A colonization is the usual presence of non-pathogenic and even potentially pathogenic microbes on the skin, in the nose, mouth, bowel, penile or vaginal mucosa, as a part of normal human flora, in the amount not harmful for the body – this is not an infection. An example is the presence of Lactobacilus acidophilus bacteria in the colon.

A contamination is the presence of germs which do not multiply, for example, in a contaminated (not infected)wound. Infected or septic wound contains multiplying microbes. Contamination also refers to presence of pathogenic microbes on medical equipment, in the water, food etc.

continue reading Infection – Definition, Causes, Transmission, Symptoms, Signs