Comparison of keyboard colonization before and after use in an inpatient setting and the effect of keyboard covers

Publication date: Available online 9 November 2017
Source:American Journal of Infection Control
Author(s): Anirudha Das, Jennifer Conti, Jennifer Hanrahan, David C. Kaelber
Computer keyboards may contribute to patient infections. We cultured new keyboards, with/without keyboard covers, before placing them in adult inpatient rooms and recultured after 6 months. Nonpathogenic bacteria were present initially but potentially pathogenic bacteria were cultured only after use. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus colonization increased after use (P < .001). Keyboards with a cover had more potentially pathogenic bacteria (22% vs 16%), which although not significant statistically (P = .72), likely due to sample size, trended against covers offering protection.



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