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Int J Sports Med 2021; 42(12): 1058-1069
DOI: 10.1055/a-1500-4620
Review

The Potential for Transmission of Coronaviruses via Sports Equipment; A Cricket Case Study

Rory England
1   Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Nicholas Peirce
2   Sport Science & Medicine, England and Wales Cricket Board, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Joseph Torresi
3   Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
,
Sean Mitchell
1   Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
,
Andy Harland
1   Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering, Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Correction: The Potential for Transmission of Coronaviruses via Sports Equipment; A Cricket Case StudyInt J Sports Med 2021; 42(14): e7-e7
DOI: 10.1055/a-1560-4870

Abstract

A review of literature on the role of fomites in transmission of coronaviruses informed the development of a framework which was used to qualitatively analyse a cricket case study, where equipment is shared and passed around, and identify potential mitigation strategies. A range of pathways were identified that might in theory allow coronavirus transmission from an infected person to a non-infected person via communal or personal equipment fomites or both. Eighteen percent of potential fomite based interactions were found to be non-essential to play including all contact with another persons equipment. Six opportunities to interrupt the transmission pathway were identified, including the recommendation to screen participants for symptoms prior to play. Social distancing between participants and avoiding unnecessary surface contact provides two opportunities; firstly to avoid equipment exposure to infected respiratory droplets and secondly to avoid uninfected participants touching potential fomites. Hand sanitisation and equipment sanitisation provide two further opportunities by directly inactivating coronavirus. Preventing players from touching their mucosal membranes with their hands represents the sixth potential interruption. Whilst potential fomite transmission pathways were identified, evidence suggests that viral load will be substantially reduced during surface transfer. Mitigation strategies could further reduce potential fomites, suggesting that by comparison, direct airborne transmission presents the greater risk in cricket.

Key words

COVID-19 - coronavirus - fomite - sports Equipment - surface Transmission - cricket


Publication History

Received: 07 January 2021

Accepted: 11 May 2021

Article published online:
12 July 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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