Spread and age of non-resident microbes in heterogeneous surface touch networks in crowded environments

Professor Li, Yuguo   (Principal Investigator (PI))

Dr Yen Hui-Ling   (Co-Investigator)

Professor Cowling Benjamin John   (Co-Investigator)

36

2020-09-01

873995

Spread and age of non-resident microbes in heterogeneous surface touch networks in crowded environments

compartmental model, fomite, Hand hygiene, surface decontamination, surface touch

Building and Construction,Environmental

Engineering (E)

17203420

General Research Fund (GRF)

2020

On-going

1) To understand, experimentally and mathematically, the equilibration time of a surface touch network, i.e., the time to reach equilibrium distribution of surface contamination across multiple surfaces. 2) To explore the effects of parameters such as frequency of surface touch, frequency of hand touch, microbe transfer rates, number of surfaces per person, and cleaning and removal rates on the transit time, age, and residual life of microbes. 3) To examine the effectiveness of pairing hand hygiene and environmental decontamination for controlling the spread of microbes on heterogeneous surface networks, particularly in crowded environments.