Overheid bevordert verspreiding ziekten

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Biometric fingerprinting for visa application: device and procedure are
risk factors for infection transmission.
Jacobs JA, Van Ranst M.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Central
Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Antwerp, Belgium. jjacobs at itg.be

BACKGROUND: Biometric fingerprint identity verification is currently
introduced in visa application and entry screening at border control. The
system implies physical contact between the skin and the surface of the
fingerprint-capturing and reading devices. AIM: To assess the risk of
infection transmission through fingerprinting. METHODS: The medical
literature was reviewed for the potential of microorganisms to be carried
on the skin of hands in the community, to be transferred from hands to
inanimate surfaces, to survive on surfaces, and to be transferred in doses
exceeding the infectious dose. The fingerprinting procedures as currently
applied were reviewed. RESULTS: Factors that favor transfer of
microorganisms are large skin-surface contact between flat fingers (2 x 20
cm(2)) and fingerprint-capturing device, nonporous contact surface, large
overlap of contact surface and short turnaround time between successive
applicants, high contact pressure, and difficulties to disinfect devices.
Transmission risk exists for enteric viruses (rotavirus, norovirus, and
hepatitis A virus), respiratory viruses (respiratory syncytial virus,
rhinovirus, influenza virus, etc.), and enteropathogenic bacteria with low
infectious doses (Shigella dysenteriae, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia
coli, etc.). Using Monte Carlo risk analysis on US data, transmission of
human rotavirus is estimated at 191 [95% credible intervals (CI) 0-289]
per million fingerprint-capturing procedures. Application of 70% isopropyl
hand rub and 85% ethanol hand gel reduces the risk to 77 (95% CI 0-118)
and 0.3 (95% CI 0-0.3) transmissions per million procedures, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The fingerprinting procedure as currently used is associated
with a risk of infection transmission. Simple hygienic measures can
considerably reduce this transmission risk.

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