100% Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas Kill Rate: Multiple Studies Establish Protocols to Clean, Disinfect Washable Computer Keyboards and Smart Card Readers
In response to increased alarm regarding computer keyboards as sources of infection at home or in multi-user environments including healthcare, government, educational, business/financial sectors, several separate studies to confirm disinfection procedures for Unotron’s patented SpillSeal® washable computer keyboards were conducted at Direct Laboratories, Wolverhampton, England; LibertyHealth Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, Secaucus, N.J.; and Graham Regional Medical Center, Graham, Tex. All sites report that a kill rate of 100 percent can be achieved using disinfectant spray products.
Tony Moore, Ph.D., Head of Microbiology, Direct Laboratories, conducted a benchmark protocol study which introduced Staphylococcus aureus contamination under 10 specific computer key locations on a control group of Unotron washable keyboards. Dr. Moore documented his results using water alone, which achieved 86.29 percentage kill rate, and then using six (6) different cleaning solution treatments, reporting a 100 percent kill rate of all bacteria with the cleansers.
In a similar study at LibertyHealth Meadowlands Hospital Medical Center, Carol Taglieri, R.N., Coordinator of Infection Control, reports on keyboards used to enter patient care information in the Meadowlands Acute Pulmonary Unit (MAPU), a ventilator weaning unit.
Keyboards were cultured prior to cleaning to validate Staphylococcus aureus contamination. Subsequent testing performed eight weeks later following the use of a spray disinfectant, Expose™ II, achieved 100 percent kill rate.
A third study at Graham Regional Medical Center validates the effectiveness of spray disinfectants on eliminating the bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Diann Grissom, Director of Infection Control, explains that the Unotron keyboards were planted with Pseudomonas, considered to be one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infections. Keyboards were subsequently sprayed with Opti-Cide-3® cleaner and cultures were obtained, with results validating that the keyboards were free of Pseudomonas.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is normally found on human skin and is often present and spread by healthy individuals who are carriers. Although seldom a cause of major health problems, Staphylococcus aureus can invade the lungs and cause pneumonia. MRSA strains – resistant to traditional antibiotic therapies – are spread by physical contact and represent a more severe health threat, particularly to people already immune-suppressed, i.e., those who are already ill or hospitalized, elderly individuals, and children.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is regarded as the epitome of an opportunistic pathogen of humans, meaning that it exploits some break in the host defenses to initiate an infection. It causes urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, bone and joint infections, gastrointestinal infections and a variety of systemic infections, particularly in patients with severe burns and in cancer and AIDS patients who are immunosuppressed. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is a serious problem in patients hospitalized with cancer, cystic fibrosis, and burns. The case fatality rate in these patients is 50 percent.
“These studies clearly validate that by following suggested protocols, users can effectively sanitize the keyboards,” explains Dr. Moore. “More importantly, these results suggest that the use and regular disinfection of the SpillSeal® keyboards could assist in reducing the spread of MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus).” Following the sanitization procedures, Dr. Moore, Taglieri and Grissom tested the Unotron SpillSeal® computer keyboards and found that each functioned satisfactorily.
According to Joseph Carabello, Director of Unotron, international manufacturers and marketers of high quality, washable data input and security devices, “The disinfection process can also be applied to other Unotron companion products with the patented SpillSeal® technology, such as the company’s SmartRest SRC5 Smartcard Reader and the external SAC2 Standalone Smartcard Reader.”
Carabello says that although washing the keyboard with water affords a level of protection against cross contamination not achieved with traditional keyboards, “It is apparent that water alone is not sufficient to eliminate the threat of infection. Following the suggested protocols, an impressive 100 percent kill rate can be achieved.”
Affordably priced, Unotron’s patented technology seals and protects keyboards from liquid or airborne penetration, maximizing safety while eliminating the need to frequently replace keyboards. SpillSeal® computer keyboards are manufactured and assembled so that the dome under each key is welded into the key assembly, allowing the keyboard to be cleaned and disinfected using commercial or hospital-grade cleansers and sealing it against liquid entering the keyboard.
For more information about purchasing Unotron’s SpillSeal® keyboards and Smart Card readers, visit https://www.unotron.com or call 800.381.5817.