School Infection Control Handbook - 2010

Chapter 2: The Science of Infection Control

How long do microbes live outside of the body? Virus

Lifespan

Hepatitis A

Fecal–oral; can survive for 12 weeks or more depending on environmental conditions. It is killed by heating to 185° F (85° C) for 1 minute. 6

Hepatitis B

Bloodborne; can survive even in dried blood on environmental surfaces for at least 7 days and still be infectious. 7 Can survive outside the body at room temperature for at least 16 hours and up to 4 days. 8 Bloodborne; begins to die off almost immediately after it is outside of the body (exposed to air), although some research reports 3 to 5 hours. 9 Depending on the environmental conditions, avian influenza virus can survive for 24 to 48 hours, human influenza virus can survive between 9 and 18 hours, and H1N1 can survive between 2 and 8 hours on surfaces. 10 Easily transmissible through a variety of environmental-surface-contact pathways. Routes of exposure can include contact with mucous membranes and open wounds, but the agent can also infect intact skin. These agents can live for several hours to days on inanimate objects under certain environmental conditions. 11

Hepatitis C

HIV

Influenza A

MRSA

What influences the survival of microbes outside of the body? To understand the least-hazardous methods of infection control, it is essential to understand the conditions that permit microbes to survive. 12

Conditions of the Surrounding Environment Humidity, pH, temperature, amount of microbes present, ultraviolet light exposure

Properties of the Object Porous or nonporous, cleanliness, moisture level

Properties of the Virus Type of virus and type of medium it is suspended in

Adds up to virus survival on object

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