Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis
BackgroundWith the use of highly mobile tools like tablet PCs in clinical settings, an effective disinfection method is a necessity. Since manufacturers do not allow cleaning methods that make use of anything but a dry fleece, other approaches have to be established to ensure patient safety and to m...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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JMIR Publications
2013-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| Online Access: | http://www.jmir.org/2013/8/e176/ |
| _version_ | 1818883493544853504 |
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| author | Albrecht, Urs-Vito von Jan, Ute Sedlacek, Ludwig Groos, Stephanie Suerbaum, Sebastian Vonberg, Ralf-Peter |
| author_facet | Albrecht, Urs-Vito von Jan, Ute Sedlacek, Ludwig Groos, Stephanie Suerbaum, Sebastian Vonberg, Ralf-Peter |
| author_sort | Albrecht, Urs-Vito |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundWith the use of highly mobile tools like tablet PCs in clinical settings, an effective disinfection method is a necessity. Since manufacturers do not allow cleaning methods that make use of anything but a dry fleece, other approaches have to be established to ensure patient safety and to minimize risks posed by microbiological contamination.
ObjectiveThe ability of isopropanol wipes to decontaminate iPads was evaluated prospectively in a observer blinded, comparative analysis of devices used in a clinical and a nonclinical setting.
Methods10 new iPads were randomly deployed to members of the nursing staff of 10 clinical wards, to be used in a clinical setting over a period of 4 weeks. A pre-installed interactive disinfection application (deBac-app, PLRI MedAppLab, Germany) was used on a daily basis. Thereafter, the number and species of remaining microorganisms on the surface of the devices (13 locations; front and back) was evaluated using contact agar plates. Following this, the 10 iPads were disinfected and randomly deployed to medical informatics professionals who also used the devices for 4 weeks but were forbidden to use disinfecting agents. The quality of a single, standardized disinfection process was then determined by a final surface disinfection process of all devices in the infection control laboratory. No personal data were logged with the devices. The evaluation was performed observer blinded with respect to the clinical setting they were deployed in and personnel that used the devices.
ResultsWe discovered a 2.7-fold (Mann-Whitney U test, z=-3.402, P=.000670) lower bacterial load on the devices used in the clinical environment that underwent a standardized daily disinfection routine with isopropanol wipes following the instructions provided by “deBac-app”. Under controlled conditions, an average reduction of the mainly Gram-positive normal skin microbiological load of 99.4% (Mann-Whitney U test, z=-3.1798, P=.001474) for the nonclinical group and 98.1% (Mann-Whitney U test, z=3.1808, P=.001469) for the clinical group was achieved using one complete disinfecting cycle.
ConclusionsNormal use of tablet PCs leads to a remarkable amount of microbial surface contamination. Standardized surface disinfection with isopropanol wipes as guided by the application significantly reduces this microbial load. When performed regularly, the disinfection process helps with maintaining a low germ count during use. This should reduce the risk of subsequent nosocomial pathogen transmission. Unfortunately, applying a disinfection procedure such as the one we propose may lead to losing the manufacturer’s warranty for the devices; this remains an unsolved issue. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:34:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-02c28c0bc70f40c49cdbe94ae4217668 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1438-8871 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T15:34:32Z |
| publishDate | 2013-08-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-02c28c0bc70f40c49cdbe94ae42176682022-12-21T20:15:38ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712013-08-01158e17610.2196/jmir.2643Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative AnalysisAlbrecht, Urs-Vitovon Jan, UteSedlacek, LudwigGroos, StephanieSuerbaum, SebastianVonberg, Ralf-PeterBackgroundWith the use of highly mobile tools like tablet PCs in clinical settings, an effective disinfection method is a necessity. Since manufacturers do not allow cleaning methods that make use of anything but a dry fleece, other approaches have to be established to ensure patient safety and to minimize risks posed by microbiological contamination. ObjectiveThe ability of isopropanol wipes to decontaminate iPads was evaluated prospectively in a observer blinded, comparative analysis of devices used in a clinical and a nonclinical setting. Methods10 new iPads were randomly deployed to members of the nursing staff of 10 clinical wards, to be used in a clinical setting over a period of 4 weeks. A pre-installed interactive disinfection application (deBac-app, PLRI MedAppLab, Germany) was used on a daily basis. Thereafter, the number and species of remaining microorganisms on the surface of the devices (13 locations; front and back) was evaluated using contact agar plates. Following this, the 10 iPads were disinfected and randomly deployed to medical informatics professionals who also used the devices for 4 weeks but were forbidden to use disinfecting agents. The quality of a single, standardized disinfection process was then determined by a final surface disinfection process of all devices in the infection control laboratory. No personal data were logged with the devices. The evaluation was performed observer blinded with respect to the clinical setting they were deployed in and personnel that used the devices. ResultsWe discovered a 2.7-fold (Mann-Whitney U test, z=-3.402, P=.000670) lower bacterial load on the devices used in the clinical environment that underwent a standardized daily disinfection routine with isopropanol wipes following the instructions provided by “deBac-app”. Under controlled conditions, an average reduction of the mainly Gram-positive normal skin microbiological load of 99.4% (Mann-Whitney U test, z=-3.1798, P=.001474) for the nonclinical group and 98.1% (Mann-Whitney U test, z=3.1808, P=.001469) for the clinical group was achieved using one complete disinfecting cycle. ConclusionsNormal use of tablet PCs leads to a remarkable amount of microbial surface contamination. Standardized surface disinfection with isopropanol wipes as guided by the application significantly reduces this microbial load. When performed regularly, the disinfection process helps with maintaining a low germ count during use. This should reduce the risk of subsequent nosocomial pathogen transmission. Unfortunately, applying a disinfection procedure such as the one we propose may lead to losing the manufacturer’s warranty for the devices; this remains an unsolved issue.http://www.jmir.org/2013/8/e176/ |
| spellingShingle | Albrecht, Urs-Vito von Jan, Ute Sedlacek, Ludwig Groos, Stephanie Suerbaum, Sebastian Vonberg, Ralf-Peter Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis Journal of Medical Internet Research |
| title | Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis |
| title_full | Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis |
| title_fullStr | Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis |
| title_short | Standardized, App-Based Disinfection of iPads in a Clinical and Nonclinical Setting: Comparative Analysis |
| title_sort | standardized app based disinfection of ipads in a clinical and nonclinical setting comparative analysis |
| url | http://www.jmir.org/2013/8/e176/ |
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