Face-touching frequency for evaluation of infection risk

Kaho Hashimoto*, Maho Ichikawa, Yuichi Akiyama, Masayuki Ogata, Shin Ichi Tanabe, Satoshi Hori, Hitomi Tsutsumi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Indirect contact infection is caused by pathogens transmitted to the mucosa from hands. Contact infection risk is influenced by the contamination of hands and environmental surfaces and increases with increased frequency of face touching. There are large variations among the results of studies investigating hourly face touching. We conducted a video monitoring survey to investigate face-touching frequency in a classroom and on an experimentally simulated train. The locations of observed face touching were classified as mucosa and non-mucosa on the face. The results of the present and previous studies showed that participants touched the non-mucosa and mucosa at a ratio of 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively, with a coefficient of variance around 0.12. We also observed a positive correlation between the frequency of contact with the mouth and the nose in our experiment, indicating that people who frequently touch their mouth also tend to frequently touch their nose.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
PublisherInternational Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
ISBN (Electronic)9781713826514
Publication statusPublished - 2018
Event15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018 - Philadelphia, United States
Duration: 2018 Jul 222018 Jul 27

Publication series

Name15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018

Conference

Conference15th Conference of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, INDOOR AIR 2018
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia
Period18/7/2218/7/27

Keywords

  • Facial mucosa
  • Hand-to-face contact
  • Infection control
  • Simulated train
  • Video monitoring

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pollution

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