Evaluation of Ethanol on Bacterial Contamination of computer keyboards at two medical centers in Semnan

Computer keyboard may serve as reservoirs for the transmission of microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine bacterial contamination of computer keyboards in various wards of Fatemiyeh and Amir-Almomenin hospitals in Semnan city and evaluation of ethanol efficacy on the contaminations.
This study was done on different parts of the computer keyboards at two medical centers in Semnan city before and after disinfection. With multi-stage stratified sampling, 48 samples of 24 computer keyboards was collected. Specimens cultured on blood agar, manithol salt agar and eosin methylene blue (EMB). Bacteria diagnosed depending on phenotypic characteristics and biochemical properties. For the analysis and comparison of data, SPSS software version 21 was used.
All of the samples obtained from the computer keyboards on both medical centers previously disinfected with ethanol, shown bacterial contamination (100%). Totally, 12 different bacterial species isolated and at least one pathogen in 95.8% of the samples grew. In AmirAlmomenin hospital keyboards, gram positive sporulating bacilli with 33.3% and from Fatemiyeh hospital keyboards, Escherichia coli with 29.1% were prominent.
The data of this study suggest that microbial contamination of keyboards in different sections of hospitals is prevalent and that keyboards may be successfully decontaminated with disinfectants. Also contamination rate of intestinal bacteria in Amir-Almomenin hospital due to usage of disinfectants has significant decreased than Fatemiyeh hospital.