iKey.com
Published: September 17, 2010

What's on your keyboard?

Sanitation is Key to Healthy Flu Season

With the first day of autumn just around the corner, many new things are in the air: the excitement of football season, chilly fall weather, and the flu.

Though the threat of H1N1 has greatly subsided, protection from it and the seasonal influenza virus is still crucial. Each year, 25 to 50 million Americans become ill with the flu virus, leading to 150,000 hospitalizations. While clinics nationwide have already begun administering vaccines, officials recommend common-sense hygienic protocols to reduce the chances of contracting the flu this year.

Frequent hand washing with soap and water, covering of coughs and sneezes, and regular disinfection of high-touch areas are key steps in the prevention of cross-contamination, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Keyboards: Breeding Grounds for Bacteria

Shared computer keyboards are commonly associated with the spread of illness. One study by the University of Arizona found that an average office keyboard is home to 60 times more germs than a toilet seat – that's 3,295 bacteria per square inch.

The cracks between a traditional keyboard make it virtually impossible to effectively sanitize. Larger debris like crumbs, hair and dirt lodge themselves under the keys, while items not visible to the naked eye, including moisture droplets from sneezes, skin particles and living viruses, settle on and between the keys.

The integration of disinfectable medical keyboards, such as iKey’s SlimKeys™ line, into shared spaces is proven to reduce cross-contamination. A Ball State University disinfection study concluded that Hepatitis C, E. Coli, and MRSA were easily killed on iKey’s SlimKeys™ keyboards with 10 percent bleach solutions, making them effective in the battle for infection control.

iKey’s line of SlimKeys™ keyboards are specially designed to reduce cross-contamination by combining a sealed case that eliminates debris and moisture from entering the keyboard, with low-profile keys that make regular disinfection virtually instant. Ideal for any shared space, iKey keyboards are completely waterproof and compatible with all hospital-grade disinfectants or wipes.

Optional features of these products include integrated backlighting and pointing devices. In addition, slim dimensions make iKey’s SlimKeys™ keyboards ideal for integration onto mobile carts or wall mounts.

For more information on medical keyboards, and how they may reduce cross-contamination in your facility, call Wetkeys at 866-938-5397 or visit us online at www.wetkeys.com.

World Health Watch Archive