How long

[bjaeram]

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?

[oramar]

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.

[jessi1106, BSN, RN]

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.

[jennifer0702]

If the virus can survive 24-48 hours how can it only infect you 2-8 hours after being deposited?

[RuRnurse?]

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.