Bacteria can live on surfaces for a wide range of durations, from hours to several months or even up to a year, depending on the bacterial species, the type of surface, and environmental conditions.
Typical Survival Times of Bacteria on Surfaces
- Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Enterococcus spp. (including VRE), and Streptococcus pyogenes can survive on dry surfaces for months. For example, S. aureus has been reported to survive from 7 days up to 1 year in vitro, with survival times varying by surface type (e.g., 9–12 days on plastic, 72 hours on stainless steel, 6 hours on copper)
- Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli , Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Serratia marcescens , and Shigella spp. can also survive for months on surfaces, sometimes longer than gram-positive bacteria. For instance, Serratia marcescens can survive 3 days up to 2 months, and Shigella spp. from 2 days up to 5 months
- Some bacteria survive only for days, such as Bordetella pertussis , Haemophilus influenzae , Proteus vulgaris , and Vibrio cholerae , which persist for a few days on surfaces
- Spore-forming bacteria like Clostridium difficile can survive for months on surfaces, with C. difficile lasting up to five months on hard surfaces
- Survival is generally longer on hard, non-porous surfaces (plastic, stainless steel) than on porous materials (fabric, cotton)
Factors Influencing Bacterial Survival
- Surface type: Hard, smooth surfaces like plastic and stainless steel support longer survival than porous or soft surfaces.
- Environmental conditions: Lower temperature and higher humidity generally increase bacterial persistence.
- Presence of organic material: Nutrients like skin cells, blood, or mucus on surfaces can help bacteria survive longer.
- Antimicrobial surfaces: Copper surfaces kill bacteria rapidly, often within minutes, although bacteria can adapt under laboratory conditions
Summary Table of Survival Ranges for Selected Bacteria
Bacteria| Survival Time on Surfaces
---|---
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)| 7 days to 1 year (plastic: 9–12 days;
stainless steel: 72 h)
Enterococcus spp. (VRE)| Months
Streptococcus pyogenes| Days to 6.5 months
Escherichia coli| Hours to months
Serratia marcescens| 3 days to 2 months
Shigella spp.| 2 days to 5 months
Clostridium difficile| Up to 5 months
In conclusion, bacteria can remain viable and potentially infectious on surfaces from a few hours to several months, with some species surviving up to a year under favorable conditions. This underscores the importance of regular cleaning and disinfection, especially of high-touch surfaces
