Infection Control

Question

Level 1

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Infection Control

Hi All,

I want to know, if any Infection Control tests have been done for iPads. I'm a Software Developer for a NHS Trust, and I want to convince my bosses that we should be using iPads in the hospital, however one question / issue has come up when attempting to convince Managers and Clinical staff, and that is Infection Control.

So has any tests been done on the suitability of iPads for infection control? Can they be dipped in Alcohol Gel, will the hardware / screen degrade over time if it's cleaned constantly between each patient, a few dozen times a day? Will the hardware die if it's cleaned thoroughly? Any other information that will allow me to convince them that its a good idea is greatly appreciated.

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 24, 2011 11:33 PM

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Answer 1

Feb 24, 2011 11:46 PM in response to Duncan_dnk

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 🙂

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Answer 2

varjak paw

Level 10

182,668 points

Feb 25, 2011 12:56 PM in response to Duncan_dnk

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.

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Answer 3

Apr 4, 2011 9:32 AM in response to Duncan_dnk

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

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Answer 4

Jul 31, 2012 8:52 AM in response to ffromto

Not sure alcohol is enough from an infection control standpoint. I would use one of the disposable sleeves or covers on the market. iBarrier , ChefSleeve, I think there are a couple others out there. If you are using the device for patient education , dont want your patients to see finger prints (read into that germs) on the screen a disposable is the way to go.

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Answer 5

Jul 31, 2012 8:57 AM in response to ffromto

In no way should you use any cleaner on the directly iPad screen. There are some solutions that are more economical and offer the protection you need at minimal cost... I found the iBarrier a disposable sleeve that costs less than 3 cents each to be a good solution.

http://www.crosstex.com/cleanersproductguide.asp?mycat1=cat2&mycat2=cat2_2&mycat 3=cat2_2_6

They come in a dispensser box of 100 so easy to share and keep clean as well....

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Answer 6

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Feb 25, 2011 11:01 AM in response to Duncan_dnk

I guess NHS is a bit more fanatic than health services in the US. I've seen iPads in use in hospitals and clinics here.

It sounds like what you need to do is use a case like the Otterbox that can be wiped with alcohol as often as you like.

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Answer 7

kaosuk

Level 1

4 points

Sep 13, 2013 2:14 PM in response to Duncan_dnk

Take a look at Tough-PAC antimicrobial iPad case for healthcare, can also be cleaned with standard infection control products. See www.innervisiontechnology.com.

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Answer 8

Sep 16, 2011 1:32 PM in response to Duncan_dnk

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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Answer 9

rccharles

Level 6

13,037 points

Sep 18, 2011 11:10 AM in response to cherie85

To cherie85:

JJC/Visualedtech is here. Seems like a small company. Give them a call.

http://www.visualedtech.com/index.html

there medical stuff is here:

http://www.visualedtech.com/ipad__storage%20and%20charging%20cabinets.htm

Robert

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Answer 10

Feb 25, 2011 12:07 AM in response to Duncan_dnk

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 🙂

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Answer 11

Tamara

Level 6

13,744 points

Feb 25, 2011 4:40 AM in response to Duncan_dnk

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.

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Answer 12

julpin36

Level 1

0 points

Feb 25, 2011 3:22 PM in response to Duncan_dnk

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.

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Answer 13

ffromto

Level 1

0 points

Jul 31, 2012 8:44 AM in response to Bri12311

We ended up using alcohol wipes, which I was advised at the Apple Store were okay to use. They left all sorts of smudges on the screen, though. I also purchased some screens but haven't applied them yet as we're not using the devices at the moment. Hope this helps.

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Answer 14

Duncan_dnk Author

Level 1

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Feb 24, 2011 11:58 PM in response to Carolyn Samit

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

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Answer 15

Duncan_dnk Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 25, 2011 10:51 AM in response to Tamara

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.

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