Purpose of Review

Fomites are inanimate objects that become colonized with microbes and serve as potential intermediaries for transmission to/from humans. This review summarizes recent literature on fomite contamination and microbial survival in the built environment, transmission between fomites and humans, and implications for human health.

Recent Findings

Applications of molecular sequencing techniques to analyze microbial samples have increased our understanding of the microbial diversity that exists in the built environment. This growing body of research has established that microbial communities on surfaces include substantial diversity, with considerable dynamics. While many microbial taxa likely die or lay dormant, some organisms survive, including those that are potentially beneficial, benign, or pathogenic. Surface characteristics also influence microbial survival and rates of transfer to and from humans. Recent research has combined experimental data, mechanistic modeling, and epidemiological approaches to shed light on the likely contributors to microbial exchange between fomites and humans and their contributions to adverse (and even potentially beneficial) human health outcomes.

Summary

In addition to concerns for fomite transmission of potential pathogens, new analytical tools have uncovered other microbial matters that can be transmitted indirectly via fomites, including entire microbial communities and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Mathematical models and epidemiological approaches can provide insight on human health implications. However, both are subject to limitations associated with study design, and there is a need to better understand appropriate input model parameters. Fomites remain an important mechanism of transmission of many microbes, along with direct contact and short- and long-range aerosols.

中文翻译：

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通过 Fomites 进行微生物交换及其对人类健康的影响

审查目的

污染物是无生命的物体，它们会被微生物定植，并作为潜在的媒介传播到人类/从人类传播。这篇综述总结了最近关于建筑环境中污染物污染和微生物存活、污染物与人类之间的传播以及对人类健康的影响的文献。

最近的发现

分子测序技术在分析微生物样本中的应用增加了我们对建筑环境中存在的微生物多样性的理解。越来越多的研究表明，表面上的微生物群落具有相当大的多样性，具有相当大的动态性。虽然许多微生物类群可能死亡或处于休眠状态，但一些生物体仍然存活，包括那些可能有益、良性或致病的生物体。表面特征也会影响微生物的存活率和与人类之间的转移率。最近的研究结合了实验数据、机械模型和流行病学方法，以阐明污染物与人类之间微生物交换的可能因素及其对不利（甚至可能有益）人类健康结果的贡献。

概括

除了担心潜在病原体的污染物传播之外，新的分析工具还发现了其他可以通过污染物间接传播的微生物物质，包括整个微生物群落和耐抗生素细菌。数学模型和流行病学方法可以提供对人类健康影响的洞察。然而，两者都受到与研究设计相关的限制，并且需要更好地理解适当的输入模型参数。与直接接触和短程和长程气溶胶一起，污染物仍然是许多微生物传播的重要机制。