Health Improvement Project Research Paper
By Cate Searles
Nursing 111
Diseases spread through fomite transmission are very serious in nature. Fomite
transmission is the spread of viruses and diseases through inanimate objects. A fomite is
an inanimate object that can carry pathogenic agents from one susceptible source to
another. These objects can be anything, such as a public telephone, bathroom door
handle, money, clothes, dishes, books, silverware, or escalator hand rail. Fomite
transmission often involves a secondary route of transmission like oral or direct contact
for the pathogen to enter the host. Reducing the spread of fomite transmission is
important to control infections, diseases, and keep people safe.
I chose to reduce the spread of fomite transmission for many reasons. One reason
is family behaviors. Both my mother and my step-mother are registered nurses and know
the importance of hand washing and infectious disease control. All my life I have been
told to wash my hands numerous times a day: before I eat, after I use the bathroom, as
well as entering the house after school, work, or running errands to prevent diseases from
entering our home and adhering to our belongings. Fomite transmission works best on
hard, durable surfaces like dishes, books, door knobs, telephones, and hand rails, all of
which people come in contact with on a daily basis. The other reason I chose to try and
prevent the spread of fomite transmissions is because I work in a restaurant. My
particular restaurant is fondue style, meaning we bring guests their food uncooked so they
can cook it themselves in a pot at the table. Handling raw food is a very serious danger
and many illnesses are spread through improper hand washing and fomite transmissions
in restaurants. I come in contact with people’s food on a daily basis: I cut apples and
vegetables, handle their silverware, make cheese fondue at their table, serve them
uncooked meats, all while touching surfaces in the restaurant such as water pitchers, door
handles, hand rails, cutting boards, plates and glasses, and trashcans. At my restaurant we
have a hand washing log that requires a signature after each wash every half hour. Some
servers adhere to this schedule more rigorously than others, which is why it is crucial to
wash your hands even more to help prevent the spread of fomite transmission. I have
been trained proper hand washing techniques since I was a young child by my parents
and at my job, which is why I wanted to research fomite transmission. I want to ensure
that I can protect myself from viruses and diseases that can be spread through inanimate
objects. Since coming to college however, I have gotten fairly lazy about my normal hand
washing routines. Of course I wash my hands after using the rest room, but I am not
being nearly as vigilant as I used to be. I live in close quarters with two other girls, one
who is rather dirty by normal standards. She could go days without washing her hands, in
fact the only time I believe she washes at all is in the shower. We share a bathroom and I
am very wary to use it after she has been in there. I have started carrying hand sanitizer as
part of my Health Improvement Project and because I do not live in normal clean
conditions I am familiar with.
There are many diseases and viruses that can be caused by the spread of fomite
transmission, a few of which are head lice, influenza, Sever Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS), cases of human papilloma virus (HPV) and genital warts, scabies,
meningococcal meningitis, and the common cold.
One disease in particular that can be spread through fomite transmission is genital
warts. Genital warts, or Condyloma Acuminata, are considered a sexually transmitted
disease that is caused by the human papilloma virus. Genital warts are a viral infection
that create growths on the genitalia and other areas in close proximity like the thighs and
buttocks, but can also be an internal infection of the cervix. It is estimated that nearly 3
million people become infected with genital warts every year. Genital warts has a high
infectivity rate, meaning it can be spread to other people very easily, either through
fomite transmission such as seats, benches, and toilets or contact with an infected
individual. The spread of genital warts through fomite transmission is still rare, but cases
have been reported and studies show the rate of infection through fomite transmission is
increasing (University of Tennessee-Knoxville 2003). The incubation period for genital
warts is anywhere from one to six months, but some strains of the virus can lay dormant
in the body for years before any outbreak occurs. Signs of genital warts include wart-like
bumps on the vulva, labia, perineum, penis, and peri-anal area. “Genital warts can also
appear on the uterine cervix and in the vagina, urethra, anus, and mouth” (CDC 2007).
Other symptoms include painful burning during urination, post-sexual bleeding, and
pruritus (University of Tennessee-Knoxville 2003). According to the American Academy
of Dermatology, “Pruritus is an itch or a sensation that makes a person want to scratch.
Pruritus can cause discomfort and be frustrating. If it is severe, it can lead to
sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression” (AAD 2006). The lesions can be flat, inverted, or
villiform and can look like cauliflower. They are usually pale pink or flesh colored and
are irregularly shaped. If genital warts are discovered, it is best to have them frozen,
excised, or removed with a laser to remove the warts. However, removing the warts will
not eliminate the human papilloma virus, which must be treated with medication if it can
be cured. If the genital warts are left untreated, they could resolve themselves, remain in
size, shape and color, or they could grow larger and effect defecation and urination. It is
also best to test for other sexually transmitted diseases when the warts are found (Searles
2007). It is very important for women who have been diagnosed with HPV and genital
warts to have pap smears every six months to prevent the warts from returning, however,
according to the Center for Disease Control there is no evidence indicating that the
presence of genital warts or their treatment is associated with the development of cervical
cancer. Men should also see their doctors more frequently.
Additional benefits of preventing the spread of fomite transmission are staying
healthy and preventing the spread of the common cold. If Americans could avoid
touching communal items like handrails and door knobs, our influenza outbreak every
winter would surely diminish. Proper hand washing can also prevent the spread of food
borne illnesses in restaurants, which can cause diarrhea, colds, and e-coli, which can be
fatal. Simple methods like hand washing, using antibacterial wipes or hand sanitizers, and
avoiding public items could significantly reduce the number of doctor visits and sick days
in our workforce. In order to maintain good personal health and help regulate the health
of others around you, it is always a smart idea to maintain proper hand washing
techniques to help prevent the spread of fomite transmission to yourself, your family,
your coworkers, as well as strangers utilizing public property like rest rooms and elevator
buttons.
Works Cited
•
Terrie Searles, RN 02/09/2007
•
Center for Disease Control
http://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment/2006/genital-warts.htm 02/10/2007
•
WebMD “Plains, Trains…and Germs?” DeNoon, Daniel, 2006
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/102/106531.htm 02/10/2007
•
University of Tennessee- Knoxville
http://nightingale.con.utk.edu/International/Ghana%202003/Herpes.ppt#2
56,1,Herpes%20Simplex%20Virus%20(HSV) 02/09/2007
•
Human Anatomy and Physiology, Seventh Edition; Marieb, Elaine,
Hoehn, Katja, 2006 02/11/2007