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.
Probiotic Cleaning: A Complementary Strategy for Safer Hospital Floors
VITAS Healthcare Breaks Ground on New Inpatient Hospice Center in Florida
Mile Bluff Medical Center Disrupted by Data Security Event
The Proper Way to Use Cleaning Carts
JPS Health Network Breaks Ground on New Hospital