Future of Engineering

"The keyboards incorporate a flashing light to remind users to regularly clean the surface and sensors to measure the effectiveness of cleaning them."

99,000 people die each year because of infections acquired in the hospital. That's a scary scenario. One steps into a hospital to get cured not acquire new diseases. In recent times we have come across startling reports about a Superbug infection that shows hospitals in poor light.

Toilet seats vs Keyboards

Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona has found that office toilet seats had an average of 49 germs per square inch. Germ counts on computer keyboards were more than 60 times higher, averaging 3,295 bacteria per square inch. Even worse were the tops of desks (21,000) and telephones (25,000).

Makes sense to invest in a Medigenic medical keyboard isn't it?

Features of Medigenic Medical Keyboard

1) Uniquely helps monitor its own cleaning status to safeguard both patient and staff; 2) Features a flat design to enable quick wipe downs with hospital-grade disinfectants; 3) Provides standard conventional keyboard tactile feedback for high-speed data entry capability. It comes in two models - Essential and Compliance.

Testing Results

Testing of the product has revealed a significant log reduction in bacterial contamination in the range of 0.5 log - 1.4 log (71% - 96%) at cleaning alert settings ranging from 1.5 to 12 hours. Hospitals hope to bring down the levels of MRSA and hospital acquired infections with this product.

P.S - A Reminder

While cleaning one just hopes that hospitals stick to ‘one wipe – one application – per surface’. For A recent study has revealed that current protocols utilised by hospital staff have the potential to spread pathogens after only the first use of a wipe, particularly due to the ineffectiveness of wipes to actually kill bacteria.

Source - Esterline Advanced Input Systems

Related Links
In Hospitals, Simple Reminders Reduce Deadly Infections
Don't let a hospital kill you CNN (May 1, 2008)
Gut superbug causing more illnesses, deaths
Hospital mortality rates continue to drop across New York, but infections are increasing

Labels: Bio-engineering, Safety