title: Bacterial contamination of computer touch screens.
abstract: The goal of this study was to determine the occurrence of opportunistic bacterial pathogens on the surfaces of computer touch screens used in hospitals and grocery stores. Opportunistic pathogenic bacteria were isolated on touch screens in hospitals; Clostridium difficile and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus and in grocery stores; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Enteric bacteria were more common on grocery store touch screens than on hospital computer touch screens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Gerba
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University Medical Center, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Adam L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wuollet
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raisanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: lopezg3@email.arizona.edu.
authors.forename: Gerardo U
authors.initials: GU
authors.lastname: Lopez
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003201:Computers; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans
keywords: Clostridium difficile; Coliforms; Computer touch screen; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus