Objective To investigate the bacterial contamination of computer keyboard and mouse in the office before and after sterilization.
Methods Swab samples from the keyboard and mouse of 50 computers in the office of the CDC and Health Supervision Institute in Shaoxing were obtained before and after sterilization in December 2008. After cultured, counting of the bacterial colony and identification of the types of the bacteria were performed to compare the data before and after sterilization.
Results The mean numbers of bacteria colony on the keyboard and mouse before and after sterilization were 68.96& #177;27.04, 68.16& #177;21.02 cfu/cm2 and 2.11& #177;1.01, 2.12& #177;1.08 cfu/cm2, separately(all P < 0.01). The examined bacteria included staphylococcus aureus(10.0%), escherichia coli(12.0%), salmonella(2.0%)before sterilization, and no pathogenic bacteria was found after sterilization(P < 0.01). In the offices of CDC Shaoxing, the positive rate of bacteria on keyboard and mouse was 65.2%, the examined bacteria included staphylococcus aureus(13.04%), escherichia coli(21.74%), and salmonella(4.35%); while the positive rate of bacteria in the Health Supervision Institute was 37.0%, the bacteria included staphylococcus aureus(7.41%)and escherichia coli(3.7%). The positive rate in the CDC was higher than that in the Health Supervision Institute.
Conclusion The bacteria contamination of the computer keyboard and mouse in the offices is shown in different degree, and it is significantly improved after sterilization.
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