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.
Contaminants Under Foot: A Closer Look at Patient Room Floors
Power Outages Largely Driven by Extreme Weather Events
Nemours Children's Health Opens New Moseley Foundation Institute Hospital
Code Compliance Isn't Enough for Healthcare Resilience
Ribbon Cutting Marks First Phase Completion for New Montefiore Einstein Facility