Infection Control Recommendations for iPads/Tablets

These recommendations are based on the research listed in my previous post as well as;

Hand Hygiene Australia
Hand Hygiene in Outpatient and Home-based Care and Long-term Care Facilities
www.hha.org.au

WHO (World Health Organization)
Clean Care is Safer Care (2005)
Save Lives: Clean Your Hands (2009)

Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare (2010)
www.nhmrc.gov.au
B1.4.2 Routine Environmental Cleaning

Recommendations for Infection Control in the Use of iPads/Tablets/Mobile Phones;

1.  Implement staff/carer education in the need for regular cleaning of touchscreen devices and knowledge of protocols (including mobile phones)
2.  Provide education in hand hygiene for both staff/carers and users/residents/patients - recommend before and after using device
3.  Develop guidelines on method of cleaning the device. Do not use antibacterial sprays or liquids directly on the devices.  Apply to a cloth first, or use wipes.
4.  State frequency of cleaning -after each use and thorough cleaning at the end of the day
5.  Provide documentation of cleaning protocol- de Bac App includes a log record

In my next post I will discuss a working example of how infection control can be managed using iPads.