Targets Bacteria and Viruses on Computer Keyboards

If you’ve ever wondered how the flu, pink eye, a cold, salmonella, or even MRSA can spread so fast…the answer may be right at your fingertips

Although most of us might suspect bathroom faucets, a sneeze or a warm salad bar at the end of the lunch-hour crush to harbor a wide and frightening spectrum of bacteria and viruses, experts warn that one of the most hazardous sites where disease-causing contaminants may thrive…is as close as your fingertips – on your own computer keyboard.

The scope of the problem expands exponentially when you consider shared-use computers – like those in elementary school computer labs, in multi-user office settings, at retail checkout terminals, in college computer kiosks, libraries and especially in hospitals or physician offices where the bacteria and viruses may be more resilient and exotic.

Recent studies (Journal of Clinical Monitoring and Computing ISSN 1387-1307) revealed that computer keyboards in intensive care units may serve as reservoirs for microorganisms – from which pathogens may be transferred via the hands of personnel, to the patient, causing nosocomial infections. Another study, led by Dr. Gareth Williams of Cardiff University, and reported at the 2008 American Society of Microbiologists scientific conference in Boston, warned that improper use of disinfectant wipes (using the wipe on more than one surface) in the hospital setting actually spreads bacteria and viruses rather than reduces the transmission, and such incorrect use may easily promote the birth of superbugs.

In yet another scenario that also points a finger at the computer keyboard, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was called in to investigate a norovirus outbreak that swept through an elementary school in Washington DC recently.

Dr. Shua Chai, a CDC epidemiologist who was involved in the investigation, explained that a computer keyboard and computer mice were found to act as vectors of disease transmission in this case.

“Of the 314 students and 66 staffers at the school, 79 students and 24 staff members came down with the illness,” explained Dr. Chai. “We traced it to viral infection of computer keyboards and mice.”

The offending virus was typical of norovirus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea lasting for several days. Although it is usually not severe, it can be life-threatening to infants, older people and those who have weakened immune systems.

A “Brilliant” Idea?

It was, in fact, an earlier school-based situation that got Jon Roberts, PhD — former aerospace engineer, US Government research director and now patent attorney — thinking about the problem of cloaked microorganism transmission.

“My son, who was in elementary school in 1997, was repeatedly yet unknowingly bringing home a grab-bag of pathogens. I was never as sick as when my son went to elementary school. Whatever he brought home, I’d get. And it would take a long time to recuperate from each illness. It was depressing! That got me thinking about how diseases are transmitted and what might be done to intervene.”

Dr. Roberts says that’s when he started doing some recreational reading in scientific journals to better understand where germs reside and how they might be stopped – or how he might at least put a kink in their hitchhiking habits. With a background in photographic science and a PhD in remote sensing (determining characteristics of an object without coming in contact with the object based on their electromagnetic energy) his attention focused on the effect of light energy on bacteria and viruses.

Fast forward to 2009, and Dr. Roberts, Chairman and founder of VirWall Systems Inc., is introducing the KBS-1, the first UV keyboard de-bugger that delivers uniform keyboard sanitation, safely, quickly, simply, conveniently, without user exposure to UV light.

The five-sided box fits over a standard-size keyboard and uses 254-260 nanometers of UV-C wavelength to deactivate bacteria including staph and strep bacteria, and even methicillin-resistant bacteria or MRSA, as well as viruses including all known flu viruses and even bird flu.

Independent laboratory tests conducted by ATS Labs in Minnesota demonstrated that the KBS-1 destroyed 99.99% of the following microorganisms on a controlled-contamination computer keyboard with less than a 60-second illumination:

Bacteria	Symptom
Staphylococcus aureus	Toxic shock syndrome, food poisoning, skin and wound infections
Eschericia coli	Nosocomial infections, urinary tract infections, diarrhea
Enterobacter aerogenes	Infections of lower respiratory tract, skin and soft tissues; urinary tract infections
Virus	Symptom
Influenza A virus	Human flu (fever, muscle aches, cough, fatigue, diarrhea, sore throat)

In addition the UV spectrum like that used in the KBS-1 has also been documented in the medical literature to kill other bacteria and viruses

Bacteria	Symptom
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci	Hospital acquired skin infections, toxic shock syndrome
Salmonella	Food poisoning/salmonellosis
Viruses	Symptom
Rotavirus	Viral gastroenteritis: fluid loss and severe dehydration
Avian flu	Deadly flu disease carried by fowl
Klebsiella	Infections of urinary tract, lower respiratory tract, surgical wound sites

Best Uses

“Shared computers are poised to share the kinds of bacteria and viruses that can cause everything from colds, to flu, to symptoms of food poisoning and even MRSA infections,” explains VirWall’s CEO and President, Donald S. Hetzel, PhD, who has previously been director of research for a number of leading international pharmaceutical companies.

“So the ideal setting for the use of the keyboard sanitizer would be sites like school computer labs as well as hospital workstations, remote mobile diagnostic units and ICUs where the transmission of bacteria and viruses from computer operator to patient or multiple patients, could prove extremely dangerous. In addition, offices with temps or workstations used by multiple workers could benefit greatly, as would people who use retail checkout terminals, libraries and even college computer kiosks where students pick up their email,” he adds.

One of the most notorious outbreaks of conjunctivitis occurred at Dartmouth College in 2002. The vector was identified as the 100+ computer terminals where hundreds of students pick up their college email daily. The infection affected about 700 students in a short period of time. Many students were re-infected before specialists were able to identify the source of the infection.

“The annual cost of medical care in the US for treating infectious diseases caused by microbes is a staggering $120 billion. And almost a quarter of the population has flu-associated illness any given year,” explains Dr. Hetzel. “Although flu gets the lion’s share of attention from October to April, one study a few years ago revealed that there were 500 million non-flu viral respiratory tract infections that cost more than $17 billion that year in medical costs and another $22.5 billion in indirect costs including lost time from work. (University of Michigan; Arch Intern Med. 2003) Strep and staph infections are of equal concern – especially methicillin-resistant staph, which is on the rise.

“Part of the beauty of using UV as a weapon against bacteria,” he notes, “is that we can avoid the risk of creating superbugs – which has become such an issue with overuse of antibiotics.

“As a scientific researcher who’s studied everything from the common cold to malaria, the bottom line is very straightforward: it’s time that we got smarter about where we pick up these bugs and use technology to help us reduce our exposure,” adds Dr. Hetzel.

Dr. Hetzel notes that he uses the KBS-1 prototype in his office and home and is putting some gentle pressure on his own physician to provide units for his staff.

Where Do the Keyboard Bugs Come from Anyway?

Studies have shown certain bacteria and viruses are more likely to survive on inanimate surfaces in hospitals, such as keyboards and desks. That’s where you may find methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci, norovirus, influenza virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus and Candida. While the keyboard may become contaminated by the operator who has touched a patient, the obvious risk is that the bacteria or virus on the keyboard will be spread to other healthcare workers throughout the hospital as well as other patients, including patients with compromised immune systems.

“On keyboards in the school or work setting, bacteria and viruses get deposited in different ways,” explains Dr. Roberts. “Germs on whatever you touch on your way to work are transferred onto a keyboard in seconds. And during the day bacteria picked up by touching bathroom faucets and doorknobs compound the problem. Then there’s an additional batch that can be added by a sneeze or cough. If you pick up a virus on your fingertips, you can spread it to other surfaces and people in a matter of minutes.”

Dr. Roberts points out that eating at your computer is “like an open invitation to bacteria, to feast and reproduce. It’s like party time between the keys,” he adds.

“Just one crumb falling into the cracks between the keys can provide enough food for one bacterium to reproduce exponentially,” the inventor explains. “Oddly enough, salmonella is a common bacterium found on computers. And if you touch a contaminated key then later rub your eye, you just might get symptoms of food poisoning without actually having consumed a salmonella-tainted food or beverage.”

So what’s a person to do without become a full-blown germaphobe?

“I’d offer three points of advice,” suggests Dr. Roberts. “First, don’t eat near your computer or at your desk. Second, wash your hands frequently. And third, use the keyboard sanitizer so that you don’t give your computer the chance to sicken you, your classmates, associates, friends or family.”

Other uses for UV light

In addition to destroying the DNA of specific bacteria and viruses, UV light is frequently used to disinfect spring water before bottling; used in police work or forensic medicine to reveal dried urine or blood; analyze mineral or gem composition; help sterilize workspaces, tools and instruments in biology labs and hospitals; eradicate parasites that would otherwise proliferate in swimming pool water; kill bacteria before the dentist puts in a filling; treat psoriasis; and pasteurize fruit juices. And recently (October, 2008) construction began on the world’s largest ultraviolet drinking water disinfection facility, with a capacity to provide 2 billion gallons daily of clean drinking water to the New York area.

What’s Next for VirWall?

Dr. Roberts promises VirWall will introduce additional inventions designed to sanitize common items that can be vectors for disease. In fact, the company is already developing prototypes of three additional products they hope to launch during the next two years.

Media inquiries contact: MJ Wyatt; Wyatt Communications LLC; 212 661-9610; This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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