Look-Alike Spill-Resistant Keyboards Can Be Dangerous in the Healthcare Environment

That a keyboard is "spill resistant" and washable doesn't mean it can meet hospital and healthcare standards for sanitation, according to Unotron (www.unotron.com), a manufacturer and worldwide marketer of high quality, washable data input and security devices. The company today warned against competitor keyboards that, while they may be washable, may allow fouled detergent and solid matter to be trapped and contaminate the inside of the keyboard."This buildup of detergent mixed with particulate matter, food, and body fluids becomes worse over time and is never able to be removed," says Joseph Carabello, a director of Unotron. "Not just any sealed keypad will do."

"Specifically, some so-called 'sealed' keyboards allow water to enter and trust that it will run out through drain holes," Carabello explains. "Particulate matter, food, even blood can be trapped permanently in keyboards with these cheap designs. They may still work after they get wet ... but they can't be disinfected. Potential buyers should be aware that they are opening the door to bio-hazardous conditions that promote substandard infection control."

Carabello urges healthcare providers interested in maintaining sanitary or sterile computing environments to make sure their keyboard vendor can demonstrate and authenticate that their keyboard and input device products can pass "bacteria-kill" tests.

"We're able to do that and so are some other vendors of similar products," continues Carabello. "Unfortunately, there are now some devices out there that are represented as perhaps more than they are. Frankly, these look-alikes are dangerous in the healthcare environment."

According to the company, Unotron's patented SpillSeal keyboards and mice feature a fully sealed structure that allows for washing and disinfecting, providing an easy solution to the problem of bacterial infection. They can be immersed in commercial grade detergents or antibacterial solutions and rinsed under tap water, without damaging the product or impacting functionality. Solid matter and fluids remain on the outside of the Unotron keyboard and are easily flushed off, ensuring that the keyboard is sanitized.