Health Care

Fomites

Inanimate objects that carry pathogenic microorganisms and thus can serve as the source of infection. Microorganisms typically survive on fomites for minutes or hours. Common fomites include CLOTHING, tissue paper, hairbrushes, and COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Inanimate objects that carry pathogenic microorganisms and thus can serve as the source of infection. Microorganisms typically survive on fomites for minutes or hours. Common fomites include CLOTHING, tissue paper, hairbrushes, and COOKING AND EATING UTENSILS.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

1 entry terms
  • Fomite

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

5 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, microbiology, statistics & numerical data, veterinary, virology.

MeSH Record

History Note

2006

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

  1. N06.850w.520w.203.250w.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Fomites. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D050456. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D050456
  2. Fomites. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fomite
  3. Fomites. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3075150