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  1. This is a discussion on How long in Pandemic Flu, part of General Nursing ... How long does the virus live on surfaces? I'm worried about bringing it home to my family. How...

    by Oct 12, '09
    How long does the virus live on surfaces? I'm worried about bringing it home to my family. How long can it survive on clothes, shoes, hair ect. Of course I wash my hands but should I change clothes before going home or shower immediatly?

    Also what about going room to room at work. I change masks and wash hands but can I be transporting it on my clothes? I don't sanatize my stethascope between patients should I be?

    Are you doing any special room cleaning between positive patients or just the regular?
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    by bjaeram Oct 12, '09 9:10 am
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  3. 4 Comments so far...

  4. Guide
    Oct 12, '09 by
    I don't know the answers to your question but I want to tell you it is a good one. You sound like a excellent nurse and family person and I want to give you two thumbs up.
  5. Oct 12, '09 by
    here is what we were told at work from infection control:

    "the h1n1 flu virus can live outside the body on hard surfaces, such as stainless steel and plastic, for 24-48 hours and on soft surfaces, such as cloth, paper and tissues for less than 8-12 hours."

    and as far as infection:

    "however, it can only infect a person for up to 2-8 hours after being deposited on hard surfaces, and for up to a few minutes after being deposited on soft surfaces."

    i am not so worried about clothing, paper, other soft surfaces now.

    hope that helps.
  6. Oct 12, '09 by
    If the virus can survive 24-48 hours how can it only infect you 2-8 hours after being deposited?
  7. Oct 14, '09 by
    Technically, a virus is not "alive", it only can switch on in a living cell. So, perhaps it weakens with the passing of time outside of a cell, and becomes less able to cause infection...
    Someone will be along with a better answer, I'm sure. But viruses are not alive in the sense we think of being alive.