Contaminated keyboards and mice

Over the past 25 years, use of computers in healthcare faculties has increased dramatically. With the introduction of computers (keyboards, mice and touch screens) into increasing numbers of patient care areas have come reports of computer hardware serving as reservoirs of potentially infectious agents, such as staphylococci, Clostridium difficile, enterococci and coliforms.

There is concern that contact with contaminated computer keyboards might serve as a mechanism for contaminating the hands of healthcare workers with potential pathogens. The degree of contamination observed appears high enough potentially to allow transmission via contaminated hands. Up to 25% of keyboards in hospital wards have MRSA contamination independent of their design.

Reports linking healthcare-associated infections with use of contaminated computer equipment began in 1995. In several cases, identical contaminants were present on workplace keyboards, on the hands of a healthcare worker and on the keyboard at a worker's home. This places patients, workers and worker families at risk.