Bacterial contamination of keyboards: efficacy and functional impact of disinfectants.
BACKGROUND
Computers are ubiquitous in the healthcare setting and have been shown to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This study was performed to determine the degree of microbial contamination, the efficacy of different disinfectants, and the cosmetic and functional effects of the disinfectants on the computer keyboards.


METHODS
We assessed the effectiveness of 6 different disinfectants (1 each containing chlorine, alcohol, or phenol and 3 containing quaternary ammonium) against 3 test organisms (oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [ORSA], Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species) inoculated onto study computer keyboards. We also assessed the computer keyboards for functional and cosmetic damage after disinfectant use.


RESULTS
Potential pathogens cultured from more than 50% of the computers included coagulase-negative staphylococci (100% of keyboards), diphtheroids (80%), Micrococcus species (72%), and Bacillus species (64%). Other pathogens cultured included ORSA (4% of keyboards), OSSA (4%), vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus species (12%), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods (36%). All disinfectants, as well as the sterile water control, were effective at removing or inactivating more than 95% of the test bacteria. No functional or cosmetic damage to the computer keyboards was observed after 300 disinfection cycles.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that microbial contamination of keyboards is prevalent and that keyboards may be successfully decontaminated with disinfectants. Keyboards should be disinfected daily or when visibly soiled or if they become contaminated with blood.
Rutala
William A
WA
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Health Care System, 130 Mason Farm Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. brutala@unch.unc.edu
White
Matthew S
MS
Gergen
Maria F
MF
Weber
David J
DJ
D001230:Aspergillus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000145:classification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000592:standards*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005385:Fingers / Q000382:microbiology; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008838:Microcomputers; D009657:North Carolina; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013995:Time
D004202:Disinfectants