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Keyboards found to be germ playground

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, April 28, 2005

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The technologies more institutions are using to improve patient care may be negatively affecting the patient's 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.

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