Stability of pathogens on banknotes and coins

  • For the prevention of infectious diseases, knowledge about potential transmission routes is essential. Pathogens can be transmitted directly (i.e. respiratory droplets, hand-to-hand contact) or indirectly via contaminated surfaces (fomites). In particular, frequently touched objects/surfaces may serve as transmission vehicles for different clinically relevant bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. Banknotes and coins offer ample surface area and are frequently exchanged between individuals. Consequently, many concerns have been raised in the recent past, that banknotes and coins could serve as vectors for the transmission of disease-causing microorganisms. This review summarizes the latest research on the potential of paper currency and coins to serve as sources of pathogenic viral, bacterial, and fungal agents. In contrast to the current perception of banknotes and coins as important transmission vehicles, current evidence suggests, that banknotes and coins do not pose a particular risk of pathogen infection for the public.

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Metadaten
Author:Toni Luise MeisterORCiDGND, Lisa KirchhoffORCiDGND, Yannick BrüggemannGND, Daniel Matthias TodtORCiDGND, Jörg Helmut SteinmannGND, Eike SteinmannORCiDGND
URN:urn:nbn:de:hbz:294-126344
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.29312
Parent Title (English):Journal of medical virology
Subtitle (English):A narrative review
Publisher:Wiley
Place of publication:Hoboken, New Jersey
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Date of Publication (online):2024/06/20
Date of first Publication:2023/12/15
Publishing Institution:Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsbibliothek
Tag:SARS‐CoV‐2; bacteria; banknotes; coins; fungi; stability; virus
Volume:95
Issue:12, Artikel e29312
First Page:e29312-1
Last Page:e29312-10
Note:
Dieser Beitrag ist auf Grund des DEAL-Wiley-Vertrages frei zugänglich.
Institutes/Facilities:Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie, Abteilung für Molekulare und Medizinische Virologie
Dewey Decimal Classification:Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Medizin, Gesundheit
open_access (DINI-Set):open_access
faculties:Medizinische Fakultät
Licence (English):License LogoCreative Commons - CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

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