CfH buys 7,500 wipe-clean keyboards

Connecting for Health has purchased 7,500 wipe-clean keyboards as part of a new initiative to help keep IT equipment infection free.

The cleanable keyboards are designed to help prevent cross-infection in hospital environments, cutting the spread of hospital acquired infections like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and clostridium difficile (C. Diff.).

No plans have been confirmed yet on the deployment plans for the new keyboards.

Speaking at a Healthcare Computing 2008 panel session on patient safety, CfH’s clinical architect, Dr Mike Bainbridge said: “Cross infection is an issue which CfH are looking at closely. The agency has been looking at specifications for infection-resistant, cleanable keyboards and I can confirm that 7,500 of these, similar to the ones used at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Foundation Trust, have been purchased by the agency.”

CfH supported UCLH’s pilot of the new keyboard, which electronically remind users that it needs to be cleaned regularly.

Dr Bainbridge added: “The flashing light it uses to tell users when it needs to be cleaned has increased hand washing by up to 60%.”

CfH’s national lead for clinical safety, Maureen Baker, said: “This is a good exemplar of designs for safety. Hopefully these will be rolled out to the NHS and reduce instances of cross-infections.”

Dr Bainbridge added the keyboards would not have been developed without CfH’s involvement: “This would not have happened without us telling manufacturers that no keyboards are fit for healthcare, or without the backing of spending from a large agency such as CfH.”

NHS CfH worked in partnership with University College London Hospital, led by Dr Peter Wilson, to look at the efficacy of cleaning different keyboard surfaces – recognised as one of the most widespread and significant vectors for such infection.

Working with UCLH, the National Patient Safety Agency, the NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency, CfH developed a new specification for infection resistant keyboards and pointing devices (mouse) that UCLH took to market with an open tender.

The UCLH tender was won by US firm Esterline, who developed the Advanced Input Systems Medigenic keyboard, which it claims could cut cases of the MRSA superbug by up to 10%.