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Camden New Journal - HEALTH by JAMIE WELHAM
Published: 10 January 2008

Dr Ostro and Dr Wilson with their keyboard design

Smart technology to battle the MRSA bug

Phones will warn that it’s time to clean the handset

AN infection-resistant telephone dreamt up by brains at University College London Hospital could save the NHS millions of pounds in the battle against superbugs.
Dr Peter Wilson and Dr Paul Ostro, the duo behind last year’s revelatory “intelligent” keyboards, which are kitted out with hidden sensors and timers, have gone one better and designed an easy-clean phone.
Their proposal has won a nomination for the NHS Innovators award and has generated widespread interest from manufacturers.
Studies show up to 10 per cent of MRSA cases originate from keyboards and telephones.
At the beginning of last year UCLH Foundation Trust was the first in the country to install the keyboards, which made sticky keys and dusty crevices a thing of the past. A warning light is activated every 12 hours and only switches off if the hidden sensors are cleaned with an alcohol wipe. The keyboards have been adopted by 30 hospitals in the UK and are even more popular in the US.
Dr Wilson, a consultant microbiologist at the hospital, said the phone was the next logical step in fighting infection in hospitals. “The most contaminated things are computer keyboards, phones and ballpoint pens. They’re a significant source of cross-infection,” he said.
“The phone is smooth. It has no cracks and crevices. There are no holes, even in the earpice and mouthpiece. It’s very easy to clean with a quick wipe. And it will have an alarm that goes off if you don’t clean it – a voice saying ‘You haven’t cleaned me for two hours’.
“Anything in the patient environment could be modified in this way, especially electronic equipment such as glucose meters which are hard to clean. There’s a lot of redesign work still to be done.
“This is a significant step forward in the battle against infections like MRSA. You can run education campaigns to get people to wash their hands more often but the impact only last for about eight weeks. But with these phones you have got a constant reminder of the importance of washing your hands and keeping your phone clean.

Hospital is a cleaner operation

Health Secretary Alan Johnson visited the Royal Free Hospital this week to see its deep-cleaning programme at first hand.
Mr Johnson was unflustered as a team of cleaners polished and steamed around him on the East Ward.
Tuesday’s visit was part of Department of Health plans to launch Clean Safe Care – its strategy that puts hospital cleanliness and infection control at the top of the government’s agenda.
Mr Johnson was briefed on the trust’s activities and achievements in infection control. He also took time out to speak with cleaning staff and matrons.
Medical director and clinical lead for infection control Dr Adrian Tookman said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate to the Secretary of State the high standards of infection control we have for our patients, staff and visitors.
“Hospital-acquired infections are increasingly a key issue for public confidence in the NHS.
“No health care system can ever be entirely risk-free and we must continue to do more.”

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