- Home
- » e-Newsletters
Keyboards are loaded with germs
Physician Practice Advisor, May 4, 2005
The technologies more institutions are using to improve patient care may be negatively affecting patients' health in the process.
A new study conducted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago shows that germs and bacteria can survive on keyboards up to 24 hours, a possible danger for patients as technology finds its way to patients' bedsides, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). This news comes following research showing that anything from pens, to stethoscopes, to white coats, and even neckties can all be carriers of harmful bacteria.
"We touch a lot of things and don't consciously think about the effect of touching things and what we carry around," said Lawrence Brandt, MD, chief of gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY, according to the AMA.
In addition to seeing how long different types of bacteria could survive on keyboards and keyboard covers, the study also examined transmittance of the bacteria. The research showed that contact with a contaminated keyboard could lead to contamination of both gloved and ungloved hands.
Although disinfectants can be effective against preventing germs from spreading, "hand washing is still seen as one of the best defenses against spreading germs," according to the AMA.
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- Topic: CMS, OESS post new security compliance review information, checklist
- Capturing all necessary codes for IUD insertion and removal can be challenging
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- QA:Coding multiple initial infusions
- News and briefs: Oklahoma Osteopathic Association against residency bill change
- HIPAA Q&A: Level of encryption needed for email
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- E-mailed
-
- Q/A: Volume requirement for reporting hydration services
- Featured blog post: Nurses face felony charges after reporting physician to the Texas Medical Board
- Catch up on what's new with injections and infusions
- New conflicts of interest create new challenges
- Q/A. One injection code or two?
- What does case-mix index mean to you?
- ED-to-inpatient transfers are flawed with safety gaps
- Joint Commission Center announces handoff communication solutions
- Inside best practice: Reduce patient falls with a stoplight
- Identify modifiable risk factors to prevent patient falls
- Searched