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Q: Infection Control
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Feb 24, 2011 11:46 PMby Carolyn Samit,Hi and welcome.....Can they be dipped in Alcohol Gel
I seriously doubt that. In fact, that would probably void the warranty not to mention destroy the iPad.
Is it possible to have each patient use hand sanitizers instead?
Best to use only products as suggested by Apple for cleaning Apple products.
"Learn about recommendations and guidelines for cleaning your Apple computer, iPad, display, or peripheral device." From here: How to clean Apple products
Carolyn -
Feb 24, 2011 11:58 PMby Duncan_dnk,Carolyn Samit wrote:
Is it possible to have each patient use hand sanitizers instead?
Not really no. Even if we did ask each patient to do that, it would still need to be cleaned after each patient, as does everything that goes onto a Ward - whether a patient touches it or not.
Is there anything on the market that can be used to fully cover the iPad that will allow this, and still work?
Message was edited by: Duncan_dnk -
Feb 25, 2011 12:07 AMby Carolyn Samit,Is there anything on the market that can be used to fully cover the iPad that will allow this, and still work?
Screen protectors are available.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-31747_7-20002141-243.html
They use the protectors in my local hospital. An ER doctor uses an iPad to show patients slideshows (using Keynote) when diagnosing.
Covering the entire iPad would require something like this but it couldn't be washed.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC361ZM/B?fnode=MTc0MjU2Mjc&mco=MTc0Njk4ODM
Keep in mind iPad covers and especially with a screen protector may cause an iPad to over heat. As most hospitals are usually cold, that may not be a problem.
Carolyn -
Feb 25, 2011 4:40 AMby Tamara,You can no more dip an iPad in alcohol gel than you can a computer or pad of paper. Do you dip pens in alcohol gel between patients when they fill out forms?
I know iPads are being used in hospitals and clinics here in the US and I haven't read about infection control being an issue. -
Feb 25, 2011 10:51 AMby Duncan_dnk,OK dipped might have been going a bit far. But will they degrade if they're constantly wiped with alcohol solutions?
And whilst you say that you can't dip any computer, we currently use Panasonic Toughbooks, that are thoroughly cleaned and i believe, well I've been told they dip them in alcohol solutions.
But if they can't be dipped, can they be thoroughly cleaned without failure, and is there any guidance on thorough cleaning procedures that can be applied? Very interested in any cases where they have been used in Clinical situations, NHS would be best.
I know it sounds unreasonable to fully emerse a device, but infection control is a big issue for clinical staff and we need to be able to prove that they can be thoroughly cleaned without them degrading and to satisfy infection control fully. -
Feb 25, 2011 12:56 PMby varjak paw,Apple's advice for cleaning an iPad is:
"Use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. It is also safe to use isopropyl alcohol 70% or a similar product. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don’t use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, ammonia, or abrasives to clean iPad. Rubbing the screen with an abrasive material may scratch your screen."
and they have general disinfecting advice here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3988?viewlocale=en_US
Regards. -
Feb 25, 2011 3:22 PMby julpin36,A have the same problem ! Alccol is not enought in Canada we need to use VIROX (chloroxid) and we don't know if it will affect the IPAD screen. I guess nobody can give us an answer. In Canada the infection control is really high. If a nurse or physician go in a room with the IPAD, they need to disinfect it after leaving the room, same thing with her hand or any other materiel that leave the room. Any materiel that stay in the room need to be disinfect once a day (if not more).
Same thing with the home health care. The nurse need to disinfect all her material between each patient.
Actually we don't use touch tablett. We use stable PC with keyboard that are disinfect each time. -
Feb 25, 2011 6:45 PMby Tamara,Your doctors never walk in an exam room with a laptop and there are no computer monitors in exam rooms?
Odd that things that stay in the room that can be touched by lots of different people are disinfected once a day while a mobile device that is handled by a doctor/nurse has to be disinfected when they leave the room. Sorry, that just doesn't make sense. -
Apr 4, 2011 9:32 AMby javastorm,I can't imagine that using alcohol gels or wipes to control germs on the screen would be a good idea, especially the affect they'd have on the screen/hw over time. There are alcohol free, EPA approved non-toxic disinfectants that do as good a job as the toxic/alcohol versions provided by the name brand companies.
This particular disinfectant continues to work 24+ hrs killing whatever bacteria or virus' are present. I use it on my smart phone and I've seen it used in doctor's offices for touch screen monitor patient signin. www.theiv7store.com -
Oct 20, 2011 6:15 PMby cherie85,Hi. I am starting a consulting firm and am interested in discussing your IPad sterilizable covers. My business involves using IPads in the Operating Room environment. Would like to discuss your design and potential partnership. Could you contact me sometime please. Thanks Eric
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Sep 16, 2011 1:32 PMby HeLovesMetal27,Otter boxes are usually really good about covering everything up, even the screens which would allow them to be wiped down several times a day.
http://www.otterbox.com/iPad-2-Defender-Series-Case/APL2-IPAD2,default,pd.html
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Sep 17, 2011 12:11 PMby PogoPossum,I think the idea is that anyone and anything coming into the room has to be disinfected, and upon leaving the room anyone/anything has to be disinfected. Things that stay in the room presumably come into it sterile (or are sterilized between patients), so any infection on them is the same infection the patient has.
