scholarly journals Disinfecting handheld electronic devices with UV-C in a healthcare setting

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzan Cremers-Pijpers ◽  
Carsten van Rossum ◽  
Heiman Wertheim ◽  
Alma Tostmann ◽  
Joost Hopman
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices ◽  
Uv C

SummaryHandheld Electronic Devices (HEDs) play a central role in the current hospital environment. However, HEDs can be a potential vehicle for transmitting (pathogenic) microorganisms. We conducted a study to assess whether disinfection with UV-C light is successful in disinfecting three different handheld electronic devices in a clinical operational setting. More than half of the baseline measurements were moderately (>10CFU) or highly (>50 CFU) contaminated. Post-disinfection the CFU was 0 in 87% of measurements. We conclude that the UV-Smart D25 can successfully be used to disinfect non-critical handheld electronic devices in the clinical healthcare.

scholarly journals Disinfecting handheld electronic devices with UV-C in a healthcare setting

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 100133
Author(s):  
Suzan Cremers-Pijpers ◽  
Carsten van Rossum ◽  
Mirjam Dautzenberg ◽  
Heiman Wertheim ◽  
Alma Tostmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices ◽  
Uv C

Handheld electronic device use in patient care: the emergency department patient perspective—a cross-sectional survey

2020 ◽  
pp. emermed-2019-209010
Author(s):  
Nicholas Tilbury ◽  
Graham D Johnson ◽  
Zoe Rusk ◽  
Carol Byrne ◽  
Maleasha Shergill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Electronic Device ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Emergency Department Patient ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Day Of The Week ◽  
Collection Period ◽  
Device Use ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices

BackgroundStaff use of smartphones and tablets in the healthcare setting is increasingly prevalent, but little is known about whether this use is acceptable to patients. Staff are concerned that the use of handheld electronic devices (HEDs) may be negatively misconstrued by patients. The HED can be a valuable tool, offering the emergency clinician access to a wealth of resources; it is therefore vital that patient views are addressed during their widespread adoption into clinical practice.MethodsPatients, or those accompanying them, within the ED of the Royal Derby Hospital between April and June 2017 were asked to complete a survey consisting of 22 questions. Data collection took place to include all times of day and every day of the week. Every eligible individual within the department during a data collection period was approached.ResultsA total of 438 respondents successfully completed the survey with a response rate of 92%. Only 2% of those who observed staff using HEDs during their ED visit thought that they were being used for non-clinical purposes. 339 (78%) agreed that staff should be allowed to use HEDs in the workplace. Concerns expressed by respondents included devices being used for non-clinical purposes and data security. The main suggestion by respondents was that the purpose of the HEDs should be explained to patients to avoid misinterpretation.ConclusionOur survey shows that the majority of survey respondents felt that clinical staff should be allowed to use HEDs in the workplace and that many of the concerns raised could be addressed with adequate patient information and clear governance.

scholarly journals Assessing the accommodation response after near visual tasks using different handheld electronic devices

2017 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aikaterini I. Moulakaki ◽  
Alberto Recchioni ◽  
Antonio J. Del Águila-Carrasco ◽  
José J. Esteve-Taboada ◽  
Robert Montés-Micó
Keyword(s):  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Visual Tasks ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices

Bacterial Contamination of Keyboards: Efficacy and Functional Impact of Disinfectants

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Rutala ◽  
Matthew S. White ◽  
Maria F. Gergen ◽  
David J. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Sterile Water ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Test Organisms ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

Background.Computers are ubiquitous in the healthcare setting and have been shown to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This study was performed to determine the degree of microbial contamination, the efficacy of different disinfectants, and the cosmetic and functional effects of the disinfectants on the computer keyboards.Methods.We assessed the effectiveness of 6 different disinfectants (1 each containing chlorine, alcohol, or phenol and 3 containing quaternary ammonium) against 3 test organisms (oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [ORSA], Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species) inoculated onto study computer keyboards. We also assessed the computer keyboards for functional and cosmetic damage after disinfectant use.Results.Potential pathogens cultured from more than 50% of the computers included coagulase-negative staphylococci (100% of keyboards), diphtheroids (80%), Micrococcus species (72%), and Bacillus species (64%). Other pathogens cultured included ORSA (4% of keyboards), OSSA (4%), vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus species (12%), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods (36%). All disinfectants, as well as the sterile water control, were effective at removing or inactivating more than 95% of the test bacteria. No functional or cosmetic damage to the computer keyboards was observed after 300 disinfection cycles.Conclusions.Our data suggest that microbial contamination of keyboards is prevalent and that keyboards may be successfully decontaminated with disinfectants. Keyboards should be disinfected daily or when visibly soiled or if they become contaminated with blood.

scholarly journals Assessing Vehicle Profiling Accuracy of Handheld LiDAR Compared to Terrestrial Laser Scanning for Crash Scene Reconstruction

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (23) ◽  
pp. 8076
Author(s):  
Jairaj Desai ◽  
Jidong Liu ◽  
Robert Hainje ◽  
Robert Oleksy ◽  
Ayman Habib ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Measurement Accuracy ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Light Detection And Ranging ◽  
Mean Square ◽  
Profiling Techniques ◽  
Subsequent Measurement ◽  
Maximum Root ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices

Forensic crash investigation often requires developing detailed profiles showing the location and extent of vehicle damage to identify impact areas, impact direction, deformation, and estimated vehicle speeds at impact. Traditional damage profiling techniques require extended and comprehensive setups for mapping and measurement that are quite labor- and time-intensive. Due to the time involved, this damage profiling is usually done in a remote holding area after the crash scene is cleared. Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning technology in consumer handheld electronic devices, such as smartphones and tablets, holds significant potential for conducting this damage profile mapping in just a few minutes, allowing the mapping to be conducted at the scene before the vehicle(s) are moved. However, there is limited research and even scarcer published literature on field procedures and/or accuracy for these emerging smartphones and tablets with LiDAR. This paper proposes a methodology and subsequent measurement accuracy comparisons for survey-grade terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and handheld alternatives. The maximum root mean square error (RMSE) obtained for profile distance between handheld (iPad) and survey-grade TLS LiDAR scans for a damaged vehicle was observed to be 3 cm, a level of accuracy that is likely sufficient and acceptable for most forensic studies.

Healthcare Personnel Attire and Devices as Fomites: A Systematic Review

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (11) ◽  
pp. 1367-1373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Haun ◽  
Christopher Hooper-Lane ◽  
Nasia Safdar
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Clinical Infection ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
The Relationship

BACKGROUNDTransmission of pathogens within the hospital environment remains a hazard for hospitalized patients. Healthcare personnel clothing and devices carried by them may harbor pathogens and contribute to the risk of pathogen transmission.OBJECTIVETo examine bacterial contamination of healthcare personnel attire and commonly used devices.METHODSSystematic review.RESULTSOf 1,175 studies screened, 72 individual studies assessed contamination of a variety of items, including white coats, neckties, stethoscopes, and mobile electronic devices, with varied pathogens includingStaphylococcus aureus,including methicillin-resistantS. aureus, gram-negative rods, and enterococci. Contamination rates varied significantly across studies and by device but in general ranged from 0 to 32% for methicillin-resistantS. aureusand gram-negative rods.Enterococcuswas a less common contaminant. Few studies explicitly evaluated for the presence ofClostridium difficile.Sampling and microbiologic techniques varied significantly across studies. Four studies evaluated for possible connection between healthcare personnel contaminants and clinical isolates with no unequivocally direct link identified.CONCLUSIONSFurther studies to explore the relationship between healthcare personnel attire and devices and clinical infection are needed.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2016;1–7

scholarly journals Microbial Sharing between Pediatric Patients and Therapy Dogs during Hospital Animal-Assisted Intervention Programs

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1054
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Dalton ◽  
Kathy Ruble ◽  
Laurel E. Redding ◽  
Daniel O. Morris ◽  
Noel T. Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Intervention Programs ◽  
Hospital Environment ◽  
Therapy Dogs ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Animal Assisted Intervention

Microbial sharing between humans and animals has been demonstrated in a variety of settings. However, the extent of microbial sharing that occurs within the healthcare setting during animal-assisted intervention programs is unknown. Understanding microbial transmission between patients and therapy dogs can provide important insights into potential health benefits for patients, in addition to addressing concerns regarding potential pathogen transmission that limits program utilization. This study evaluated for potential microbial sharing between pediatric patients and therapy dogs and tested whether patient–dog contact level and a dog decolonization protocol modified this sharing. Patients, therapy dogs, and the hospital environment were sampled before and after every group therapy session and samples underwent 16S rRNA sequencing to characterize microbial communities. Both patients and dogs experienced changes in the relative abundance and overall diversity of their nasal microbiome, suggesting that the exchange of microorganisms had occurred. Increased contact was associated with greater sharing between patients and therapy dogs, as well as between patients. A topical chlorhexidine-based dog decolonization was associated with decreased microbial sharing between therapy dogs and patients but did not significantly affect sharing between patients. These data suggest that the therapy dog is both a potential source of and a vehicle for the transfer of microorganisms to patients but not necessarily the only source. The relative contribution of other potential sources (e.g., other patients, the hospital environment) should be further explored to determine their relative importance.

scholarly journals M-Learning: An Integrative Approach to Increase Student Engagement

LETRAS ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 145-175
Author(s):  
Vivian Vargas Barquero ◽  
Natin Guzmán Arce
Keyword(s):  
Costa Rica ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Foreign Language ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Mobile Devices ◽  
Electronic Devices ◽  
Integrative Approach ◽  
Learning And Teaching ◽  
Language Classroom ◽  
Handheld Electronic Devices

M-learning utilizes handheld electronic devices as didactic tools for facilitating learning and teaching within real-time access in the language classroom. Current studies on m-learning suggest that the incorporation of electronic devices can lead to greater student engagement and better performance. Using a questionnaire, 22 professors from the major Bachelor’s in the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language from the Universidad Nacional (Costa Rica) were surveyed about how mobile devices are being implemented in the language classroom.

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