Health Hazards from Keyboarding

Author Jacqueline Stultz
Author Affiliation CIS-71B

Health Hazards from Keyboarding

Abstract

The topic of this paper is on Health Hazards caused by the use of a keyboard, areas of discussion will include types of germs, and sanitation solutions.

Introduction
The Health Hazards from Keyboarding are many, however, the author has chosen to discuss infectious bacterium for this paper, how germs contaminate and transfer from person to person, and what solutions for sanitation can be effective.

Germs

Keyboards can be highly contaminated with a variety of different germs, the most popular place to find these germs are on hospital keyboards. In hospitals, "computer keyboards are vectors for disease," states Elizabeth McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York who heads the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, a New York-based nonprofit group that advocates for cleaner and safer hospitals. McCaughey states that the bacterium on hospital keyboards can spread the hard to treat staph infection, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This bacterium has also been known to cause pneumonia, as well as, infections in the blood stream. Another common place to find these germs are in offices, a recent test was conducted in an office in the United Kingdom by British microbiologist, James Francis, who took a swab to 33 keyboards, a toilet seat, and a toilet door handle. After testing the swabs, he found that four of the keyboards had very high levels of bacteria; one had five times more germs than the toilet seat. Recall how many times while using the keyboard your face was touched, or sat and worked while eating lunch or a snack, this is quite alarming to say the least.

Bacteria
The Science definition of Bacteria is; any of a large group of one-celled organisms that lack a cell nucleus, reproduce by fission or by forming spores, and in some cases cause disease.
They are the most abundant life forms on Earth found in all living things, and in all of the Earth's environments. Bacteria, usually found living off other organisms, make up most of the kingdom of prokaryotes (Monera or Prokaryota), with one group (the archaea or archaebacteria) often classified as a separate kingdom. It is important to remember that bacteria are the plural of bacterium, and that saying bacteria is incorrect. http://science.yourdictionary.com/bacterium

Bacterium Infections
A bacterium infection can be caused from bacterium entering the body through the nose, mouth, eyes, and vagina, found in environments on the skin, in the airways, and in the digestive tract. Some bacterium is good for the body, for instance, bacterium can help to digest certain foods and keep infectious organisms from forming, but once bacterium gets into the body and starts to multiply it is called an infection. There are thousands of different bacterium found all around the world, however, only a few can cause disease in humans such as; • Cellulitis • Cholera • Fournier's gangrene

• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

• Trachoma (chlamydia eye infection)

• Tuberculosis

If left untreated, some bacterium infections may cause death. However, if diagnosed and treated fast, most people can make a complete recovery. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics, depending on the type of infection, how severe the infection is, and how good the person’s health is. Antibiotics can be administered orally, applied to the skin of the infected area, or be injected into the veins.

Sanitation Solutions
I.T. vendors have taken notice to the dirty keyboard epidemic, and are not taking it lightly. Aten Technology Inc., in Irvine CA came up with a solution of their own; they started using antimicrobial nanocoating to its KVM (keyboard, video, and mice) switch devices. "The cost associated with putting this technology on our products is so negligible that it makes sense to do it without raising the cost of the product," stated Keith Renty, Aten's business and product development manager. Another company, Seal Shield Corp. in Jacksonville, Fla., produced a dishwasher safe keyboard; they have already begun marketing them with the hospitals. Seal Shield CEO Bradley Whitchurch said Dell Inc. is now offering the keyboard, which sells for about $50, as an option for their health care products line.

Summary
Bacterium on keyboards can spread the hard to treat staph infection, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This bacterium has also been known to cause pneumonia, as well as, infections in the blood stream. There are many low cost sanitation solutions on the market these days, however, by washing the hands with soap and warm water, using hand sanitizer when ever possible, and cleaning the keyboard with a disinfecting wipe often, will surely lower the risks of getting a bacterial infection, especially when the keyboard, mouse, and phone is being used by multiple people.

References

Patrick Thibodeau, Is Your Keyboard a Health Hazard? Computerworld Sep 30, 2007 PC World, © 1998-2012, IDG Consumer & SMB Elizabeth McCaughey, a former lieutenant governor of New York who heads the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths, a New York-based nonprofit group that advocates for cleaner and safer hospitals. James Francis, British microbiologist, consumer advocacy group of Great Britain
How dirty is your Qwerty? ABC News, Dan Childs (@DanChildsABC) ABC News Medical Unit

May 5, 2008

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company (http://science.yourdictionary.com/bacterium)

Bacterial infections, Copyright ©2012 Wellness.com, (http://www.wellness.com/reference/conditions/bacterial-infections)

Keith Renty, business and product development manager, Aten Technology Inc., Irvine CA CEO Bradley Whitchurch, Seal Shield Corp. in Jacksonville, Fla. Dell Inc.