fomites

[fom-i-teez, foh-mi-]

plural noun

singular

fomes, fomite 

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fomites¹

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

When To Use

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.