Environmental Surfaces & Pathogens

Environmental surfaces in the healthcare environment are frequently contaminated with pathogens.

 

Once pathogens like C. diff have contaminated environmental surfaces, they can survive for long periods of time if proper cleaning and disinfection are not performed.

 

Let's look at the duration of survival of some common pathogens in healthcare settings on dry, inanimate surfaces.

 

Pathogen

Survival Time

C . Diff

5 months

E. coli

15. hours-16 months

Norovirus

8 hours-7 days

Staphylococcus

7 days-7 months

Hepatitis B

1 week