With increasing handheld electronics use in hospitals, there is a risk that frequently touched objects can harbor germs, according to an article on the Becker's Infection Control & Clinical Quality website.
Because standard disinfecting methods could damage the electronics, hospitals are trying to figure out how to keep tablets and cell phones from spreading germs.
A study published in the American Journal of Infection Control examined the use of UV light to disinfect these electronics.
Researchers used a handheld UV-C-emitting light and found that a few seconds of irradiation led to a significant reduction of the bacterial load on the surface of the electronics.
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