fecaalorale

Fecal-oral transmission, also called the fecal-oral route, refers to the spread of pathogens through ingestion of material contaminated with feces. This transmission mode is a major pathway for many gastrointestinal infections and is facilitated by poor sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate hygiene practices. Infected individuals can shed viruses, bacteria, or parasites in their feces for varying periods, enabling transmission via contaminated hands, food, water, or contaminated surfaces (fomites).

A wide range of organisms can reach the fecal-oral route. Viruses include norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus types 40 and 41, hepatitis A, and poliovirus. Bacteria frequently transmitted this way include Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio cholerae, and pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli. Parasites such as Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica, Cryptosporidium, and various helminths are also transmitted via ingestion of contaminated material.

Epidemiology and risk factors center on sanitation and water quality. Outbreaks commonly occur in daycare centers, crowded living conditions, and areas with limited access to clean water or adequate sewage systems. Travel to regions with poor sanitation can increase risk, as can food handling and preparation practices that fail to prevent contamination.

Prevention focuses on breaking the chain of transmission: handwashing with soap after defecation and before preparing or eating food; access to safe water and proper sanitation; safe food handling, cooking, and storage; cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and shared facilities; and vaccination where available (for example, rotavirus, hepatitis A, and, in appropriate settings, polio). Public health measures emphasize water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) to reduce fecal-oral spread.