Touch Screens, Keyboards and Cross-Contamination Issues

For those still unconvinced about touch screens’ role in hand carriage of pathogenic microorganisms, industry has responded by providing a number of products designed to cut down on opportunities for cross-contamination. MicroTouch Systems Inc. has introduced the CleanScreen, the first touch screen to incorporate antibacterial technology registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. To create the CleanScreen, a resistive membrane is permanently bonded to the glass surface of the company’s ClearTek 3000 touch screen, providing a surface where the growth of bacteria and viruses is retarded. The screen is designed for applications where hygiene is a concern, such as in clean-room manufacturing and hospitals. The product has several advantages over traditional touch screen cleaning procedures. CleanScreen has no effect on display optics or clarity; it is resistant to contamination and is easily cleaned. CleanScreen is also safe for the user and the environment because it contains no arsenic, heavy metals, or polychlorinated phenols. The resistive membrane does not leach into the environment, migrate to a user’s hands, or wear off when the screen is cleaned. Moreover, unlike conventional antimicrobials and disinfectants, the technology does not allow bacteria or fungi to adapt or create resistant organisms.

Keyboards

These frequently vilified reservoirs for pathogens are a ubiquitous part of life. A number of studies in the medical literature point to the need to clean and disinfect computer keyboards and mice regularly because they are contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms