Showing results for "fomites"

• plural of fomes.

fomites

American  

[fom-i-teez, foh-mi-] / ˈfɒm ɪˌtiz, ˈfoʊ mɪ- /

plural noun

• fomes,
  singular
• fomite
  singular

1. Pathology. surfaces, as clothing or door handles, that can become contaminated with pathogens when touched by the carrier of an infection, and can then transmit the pathogens to those who next touch the surfaces.

   Doorknobs are often cited as the classic fomites, although there’s nothing unusual about spreading disease via such fomites as toys, towels, elevator buttons, light switches, and remote controls.

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Usage

What are fomites? Fomites are surfaces that can become contaminated by infectious pathogens. By touching fomites, you can pick up those pathogens. Many diseases are caused by such organisms as bacteria and viruses, collectively called pathogens. A pathogen is considered to be infectious if it can spread from person to person through contamination. Surfaces, such as countertops or door handles, that can become contaminated by infectious pathogens are called fomites. Let’s say you become infected with the flu, that is, influenza. Once you’re sick with the flu, your fluids, such as mucus and sweat, contain copies of the flu virus. You know you need to cover your mouth when you cough to prevent your saliva from spraying on to people near you. So you cover your mouth with your hands when you cough. Now, however, your hands are covered in saliva and mucus and they contain the virus. If you touch a surface, like a doorknob or a keyboard, the pathogens on your hands will also contaminate the surface you touch. It becomes a fomes (the singular form of fomites). If your mom then touches the fomes, the virus will now be on her hand too. All your mom has to do now is touch her mouth, ear, or face and the virus will be able to enter her body and infect her with influenza as well. Multiple people can become infected by one virus by touching the same fomites. This is why washing your hands is so important. The soaps and other cleansing products we use to wash our hands can kill or remove pathogens before they are able to spread via fomites.

Etymology

Origin of fomites

First recorded in 1800–05; from Latin fōmitēs, plural of fōmes; see fomes ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fomites fomes fomite

In emails, Mid-Michigan health officials hypothesized that the cats acquired the virus from droplets, known as fomites, on their owners’ hands or clothing.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2024

So-called fomites, particles that trap virus, might also move between farms on equipment or clothing.

From Science Magazine ● Apr. 25, 2024

In a recent interview, he suggested physical contact and fomites play a role in SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2023

Rasmussen said epidemiologists can have a difficult time finding real-word evidence of a virus’s transmission via contaminated objects or surfaces, which are called fomites.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 22, 2020

A great number of different materials in common use may act as fomites, such as loose wool, cotton, or hair, or textile fabrics of various descriptions.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

If the discharge be stopped by astringents, a putrid fomes is retained in the body, which aggravates the delirium and increases the fever.

From Experiments and Observations on Different Kinds of Air by Joseph Priestley

But there belongs to the very nature of the fomes of sin an inclination of the sensual appetite to what is contrary to reason.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Objection 1: It would seem that there is no law of the fomes of sin.

From Summa Theologica, Part I-II (Pars Prima Secundae) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Therefore there was also the fomes of sin.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

Consequently it is essential to the fomes to incline to evil, or hinder from good.

From Summa Theologica, Part III (Tertia Pars) From the Complete American Edition by Saint Thomas Aquinas

The authors add: "Regular surface infection is much more effective than regular handwashing for blocking norovirus transmission via fomite route in airports."

From Science Daily ● Dec. 5, 2024

Two things we all know about our phones: Charging them is a hassle, and their shiny surfaces are a perfect medium for fomite transmission.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2021

And I think that actually looking at this as a respiratory virus, that had the potential for aerosolization, for droplets, or for fomite spread, I thought it was important to cover all of those possibilities.

From Slate ● Nov. 30, 2020

“It’s not at all uncommon to not have strong epidemiological evidence for fomite transmission,” she said, “but that doesn’t mean that fomite transmission doesn’t happen.”

From Washington Post ● Oct. 22, 2020

The WHO has continued to emphasize “that droplet and fomite transmission could also explain human-to-human transmission.”

From Slate ● Sep. 11, 2020