Ultraviolet-C decontamination of hand-held tablet devices in the healthcare environment using the Codonics D6000™ disinfection system

M Muzslay; S Yui; S Ali; A P R Wilson

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2018.04.002

Ultraviolet-C decontamination of hand-held tablet devices in the healthcare environment using the Codonics D6000™ disinfection system

J Hosp Infect. 2018 Nov;100(3):e60-e63. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.04.002. Epub 2018 Apr 9.

Authors

M Muzslay¹, S Yui², S Ali², A P R Wilson³

Affiliations

¹ Environmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: monika.muzslay@nhs.net.
² Environmental Research Laboratory, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
³ Clinical Microbiology and Virology, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.

PMID: 29649557
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.04.002

Abstract

Mobile phones and tablet computers may be contaminated with micro-organisms and become a potential reservoir for cross-transmission of pathogens between healthcare workers and patients. There is no generally accepted guidance on how to reduce contamination on mobile devices in healthcare settings. Our aim was to determine the efficacy of the Codonics D6000™ UV-C disinfection device. Daily disinfection reduced contamination on screens and on protective cases (test) significantly, but not all cases (control) could be decontaminated. The median aerobic colony count on the control and the test cases was 52 cfu/25 cm² (interquartile range: 33-89) and 22 cfu/25 cm² (10.5-41), respectively, before disinfection.

Keywords: Bacterial contamination; Hospital environmental surface; Tablet device (computer); UV-C disinfection; iPad.

MeSH terms

Bacteria, Aerobic / isolation & purification
Colony Count, Microbial
Cross Infection / prevention & control*
Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control*
Disinfection / methods*
Equipment and Supplies / microbiology*
Ultraviolet Rays*