fomites

American  

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

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.

---

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

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

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

“We further demonstrate that aerosolized fomites can be generated from inanimate objects, such as by manually rubbing a paper tissue contaminated with influenza virus,” the researchers stated in another report.

From Fox News • Aug. 20, 2020

When this does apparently occur, there is often very strong reason for a belief that the contagion was resident in some fomites connected with the patient's bed or clothing. 3d.

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