title: Effectiveness of stringent decontamination of computer input devices in the era of electronic medical records and bedside computing: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: Bedside computing may lead to increased hospital-acquired infections mediated by computer input devices handled immediately after patient contact. We compared 2 decontamination methods in 2 types of wards. We found high baseline contamination rates, which decreased following decontamination, but the rates remained unacceptably high. Decontamination was more effective in intensive care units compared with medical wards and when using alcohol-based impregnated wipes compared with quaternary ammonium-based impregnated wipes.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Hospital Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: shlomico@clalit.org.il.
authors.forename: Shlomi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Codish
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Ronen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Toledano
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Novack
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Hospital Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherf
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel; Hospital Division, Clalit Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel; Infection Control Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Be'er-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Borer
mesh_terms: D016288:Computer Terminals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050456:Fomites; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D012997:Solvents; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Computers; Cross infection; Decontamination; Electronic medical records