Surface Microbiology of the iPad Tablet Computer and the Potential to Serve as a Fomite in Both Inpatient Practice Settings as Well as Outside of the Hospital Environment

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of tablet computers and other touch screen technology within the healthcare system has rapidly expanded. It has been reported that these devices can harbor pathogens in hospitals; however, much less is known about what pathogens they can harbor when used outside the hospital environment compared to hospital practice.MethodsThirty iPads belonging to faculty with a variety of practice settings were sampled to determine the presence and quantity of clinically-relevant organisms. Flocked nylon swabs and neutralizer solution were used to sample the surface of each iPad. Samples were then plated on a variety of selective agars for presence and quantity of selected pathogens. In addition, faculty members were surveyed to classify the physical location of their practice settings and usage patterns. Continuous variables were compared via an unpaired Student's t test with two-tailed distribution; categorical variables were compared with the Fisher's exact test.ResultsOf the iPads sampled, 16 belonged to faculty practicing within a hospital and 14 belonged to a faculty member practicing outside a hospital. More faculty within the hospital group used their iPads at their practice sites (78.6% vs. 31.3%; p = 0.014) and within patient care areas (71.4% vs. 18.8%; p = 0.009) than the non-hospital group. There were no differences in the presence, absence, or quantity of, any of the pathogens selectively isolated between groups. Problematic nosocomial pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and P. aeruginosa were isolated from both hospital and non-hospital faculty iPads.ConclusionsGram positive and Gram negative organisms were recovered from the surfaces of iPads regardless of practice setting; these included problematic multidrug-resistant pathogens like MRSA, VRE, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Healthcare personnel in all settings should be aware of the potential for tablet computers to serve as a nidus for microorganism transmission.

What’s on your keyboard? A systematic review of the contamination of peripheral computer devices in healthcare settings

“…Of these, 174 were selected for full-text review, of which 99 did not meet our criteria and were excluded, leaving a total of 75 studies in the final analysis (figure 1). 16–90…”

“…The majority of studies (50) reported primarily on device contamination rates (mostly using cross-sectional samples) 17–23 26 29 32–36 38 41–46 49 50 52–56 60 62 64–66 68–76 81–86 90. Another 25 studies used interventional designs16 24 25 27 28 30 31 37 39 40 47 48 57–59 61 63 67 77–80 87–89; most reported contamination rates before and after a disinfection or cleaning process (and therefore also contributed data on baseline contamination rates).…”

Staphylococcus Infections in Pregnancy

“…35 The increasing use of personal electronic devices such as tablet computers in healthcare has introduced a new source of contamination and risk of transmission. 36 Outside the operating room, recommendations for professional dress vary with institutional policies and provider expectations (eg, white coats, scrubs vs dress clothes). Although there is no standard requirement for laundering professional wear, all clothing can be contaminated and has the potential to transmit disease when bacterial cross-contamination between patients occurs.…”

Infection control guidelines for optometrists 2016

“…Keyboards can be as easily disinfected with or without covers using five seconds of friction and a wide range of low‐level disinfectant solutions The possibility of microorganism contamination of portable electronic devices (for example, mobile phones, tablets and so on) used in the practice should be considered by optometrists, when using such devices . Hands should be washed before using these devices after touching the patient or eating food and so on.…”