Policy Statement

Computer hardware, such as keyboards and mice utilized in patient care areas poses on infection control risk as they can be sources of bacteria and cross contamination that may lead to nosocomial infections. The following protocol has been incorporated to minimize risk of infections and cross contamination with the use of computer hardware and accessories.

All staff must practice frequent hand hygiene daily.

· Use waterless alcohol sanitizer or soap and water prior to computer use and after each encounter with the computer, prior to touching patients and after touching residents.

· No gloves should be worn during computer use.

· In multi-bed rooms, hands must be de-germed /washed after accessing the computer between residents, before and after touching each resident.

All computers, laptops, mouse and other hardware accessories must be cleansed, disinfected daily and when visible soiled.

· Roving computers/laptops must be cleaned before moving to another patient room.

· When possible equipment should not be placed in the resident’s room in an area where the computer may come in contact with contaminated materials.

· Clean/disinfect computer surfaces including keyboards using germicidal wipe containing a hospital disinfectant by wiping surface with friction for 5 seconds once a day and when visibly soiled.

· Keyboards, Touch-screen computer monitors and other hardware in patient rooms should be cleaned and disinfected with same process as the other horizontal surfaces and equipment in the patient room, i.e. at least daily and when soiled.

· Non-touch screen monitors in residents rooms should be cleaned per manufacturer’s instruction and/or when visibly soiled.

· Whenever possible install computer at least 3 feet from sink.

· Splashguard can be used between computer and sink and should be made of clear plastic that can be cleaned using disinfectant products compatible with the plastic.

· Splashguard should be cleaned with same frequency and process as all other horizontal surfaces in the patient care environment, i.e., daily and when soiled.