Bacteria, virii, etc. - how long do THEY persist in a dry environment?

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The conclusion in this BMJ journal seems to be " a long time "

from BMC Infect Dis. 2006; 6: 130.

How long do nosocomial pathogens persist on inanimate surfaces? A

systematic review

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed & pubmedid=1691403\

4

" Results

Most gram-positive bacteria, such as Enterococcus spp. (including

VRE), Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), or Streptococcus

pyogenes, survive for months on dry surfaces. Many gram-negative

species, such as Acinetobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella

spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, or Shigella spp.,

can also survive for months. A few others, such as Bordetella

pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus vulgaris, or Vibrio

cholerae, however, persist only for days. Mycobacteria, including

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and spore-forming bacteria, including

Clostridium difficile, can also survive for months on surfaces.

Candida albicans as the most important nosocomial fungal pathogen can

survive up to 4 months on surfaces. Persistence of other yeasts, such

as Torulopsis glabrata, was described to be similar (5 months) or

shorter (Candida parapsilosis, 14 days). Most viruses from the

respiratory tract, such as corona, coxsackie, influenza, SARS or rhino

virus, can persist on surfaces for a few days. Viruses from the

gastrointestinal tract, such as astrovirus, HAV, polio- or rota virus,

persist for approximately 2 months. Blood-borne viruses, such as HBV

or HIV, can persist for more than one week. Herpes viruses, such as

CMV or HSV type 1 and 2, have been shown to persist from only a few

hours up to 7 days.

Conclusion

The most common nosocomial pathogens may well survive or persist on

surfaces for months and can thereby be a continuous source of

transmission if no regular preventive surface disinfection is

performed. "