Indirect transmission of the influenza virus via finger contamination with respiratory mucus droplets has been hypothesized to contribute to transmission in the community. Under laboratory conditions, influenza-infected respiratory droplets were reconstituted as close as possible to natural conditions. We investigated experimentally the survival of influenza A (H3N2) and A (H1N1)pdm09 viruses on human fingers. Infectious virus was easily recoverable on all fingers 1 min after fingertip contamination but then decreased very rapidly. After 30 min, infectious virus was detectable in only a small minority of subjects. Infectious viruses were detected for a longer period of time when droplets of larger size containing a higher number of particles were tested or when the viral concentration increased. A rapid decrease in infectiousness was observed when droplet integrity was disrupted. Our findings could help to set up the promotion of hand hygiene to prevent influenza hand contamination.
Keywords: Fingers; H1N1 2009; influenza; transmission; viral stability.
© 2013 The Authors Clinical Microbiology and Infection © 2013 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.