The Potential for Transmission of Coronaviruses via Sports Equipment; A Cricket Case Study.

A review of literature on the role of fomites in transmission of coronaviruses informed the development of a framework which was used to qualitatively analyse a cricket case study, where equipment is shared and passed around, and identify potential mitigation strategies. A range of pathways were identified that might in theory allow coronavirus transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person via communal or personal equipment fomites or both. Eighteen percent of potential fomite based interactions were found to be non-essential to play including all contact with another persons equipment. Six opportunities to interrupt the transmission pathway were identified, including the recommendation to screen participants for symptoms prior to play. Social distancing between participants and avoiding unnecessary surface contact provides two opportunities; firstly to avoid equipment exposure to infected respiratory droplets and secondly to avoid uninfected participants touching potential fomites. Hand sanitisation and equipment sanitisation provide two further opportunities by directly inactivating coronavirus. Preventing players from touching their mucosal membranes with their hands represents the sixth potential interruption. Whilst potential fomite transmission pathways were identified, evidence suggests that viral load will be substantially reduced during surface transfer. Mitigation strategies could further reduce potential fomites, suggesting that by comparison, direct airborne transmission presents the greater risk in cricket.

Prediction of Potential Respiratory Tract Infection from SARS-CoV-2 Through Hand-to-face Contact Transmission.

OBJECTIVE: The Ministry of Health of China reported a cluster of severe pneumonia cases of unknown etiology in Wuhan city, the cause of which was later identified as a novel coronavirus. However, the risk of infection through indirect transmission routes remains unclear. METHODS: A mathematical modeling approach was used to estimate the risk of infection through hand-to-face contact. The probability of infection for various routes of transmission through face-touching behavior was then calculated. RESULTS: The probabilities of infection through hand-to-mouth transmission from nonporous and porous environments had log-normal (LN) distributions with geometric means (GMs) of 0.0116 and 0.0002, geometric deviations (GDs) of 2.9822 and 3.5560, and medians of 0.0127 and 0.0002, respectively, while those through hand-to-nose transmission from nonporous and porous environments had LN distributions with GMs of 0.0006 and 0.0000, GDs of 43.2310 and 47.3372, and medians of 0.0009 and 0.0000, respectively. The probability of infection through hand-to-eye transmission from a nonporous environment had a beta distribution with α = 2.38803, ß = 13.60457, a minimum of 0.0045, a maximum of 0.9021, and a median of 0.1179, while that from a porous environment had a Weibull distribution with a scale parameter of 0.0030, a shape parameter of 1.323, and a median of 0.0023. CONCLUSION: SARS-CoV-2 infection will occur through hand-to-face contact via contaminated environment.

Disinfection of gloved hands during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Disinfection of gloves can be used during a pandemic situation when performing various procedures on the same patient or when removing personal protective equipment. If performing glove disinfection, there is a need to check the compatibility of gloves with the disinfectant product used. AIM: To test the resistance of nitrile gloves to various disinfectant solutions. METHODS: One hundred percent powder-free nitrile gloves, composed of nitrile butadiene rubber compounds, were exposed to various disinfectants to analyse resistance. The seven most commonly used disinfectant solutions in the healthcare field were selected for testing. The effects of each disinfectant were analysed in comparison with the control group (untreated glove). For tensile testing, the thickness of each test specimen was measured with a micrometer. FINDINGS: Bleach solution decreased the breaking load of gloves, although to a lesser extent than disinfectants that contained ethanol. CONCLUSION: Disinfectants that contain alcohol decrease the breaking load of nitrile gloves.

COVID-19 and hand hygiene: the vital importance of hand drying.

The significance of hand hygiene for preventing the transmission of microorganisms and reducing the spread of infection has been brought into sharp focus following the global coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In the months since the initial outbreak, international public health campaigns and practitioner education has concentrated on hand washing and hand sanitising, with very little reference to hand drying, if any at all. However, hand drying is integral to effective hand hygiene, and is important in controlling the spread of microorganisms and maintaining healthy skin integrity. This research commentary will focus on two issues of importance with regards to hand drying: microbial transmission and skin irritation, with implications for healthcare practitioners and practice considered. It is argued that a more holistic approach to hand hygiene must be the ambition if health professional and public behaviour is to become embedded and sustained.