Technology Germs on a PDA?

[fantasty]

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I just got a Treo, and used it in clinic for the first time last week. (Volunteering at a free medical clinic - I'm a student and won't be back on the hospital wards until January). Obviously, I do hand hygiene at the appropriate times for patient care, but I can foresee grabbing my pda without thinking about it. I was thinking about this on the way home when I made a call (thinking about some of the things I touched that day).

I've read articles about hospital keyboards being fomites for nosocomial transmission of disease. So, I was just curious if any of you ever thought about this, and if so what do you do about it? I haven't read the manuals about cleaning it yet, so I didn't know if alcohol swabs would hurt the PDA or the touchscreen.

 

[deleted87716]

It's no worse than any other cell phone, really.

Alcohol wipes shouldn't hurt anything, as long as you don't actually get any liquid inside the device.

 

[ramonaquimby]

i thought the same thign, which is why i was goign to get TWO PDAs...one for work, and one for personal use. a faculty member told me this was the dumbest thing he ever heard (soooooorry, dude, just an idea!)...thought it would end up being too confusing for me.

so whatever, i followed his advice. but sometimes i get grossed out...oh well.

 

[joseppi]

that's exact reason i don't want a treo palm/phone combo. Unfortunately the marketing is so heavily gear towrds treos that the regualar simpleton palm technology is taking a backdoor.
How many time do you puit the phone up to face to talk on it, so close to your mouth and through out the day it collects things, you touch it, and if its hung or your belt (because unlike razr it won't easily slide into your pocket with making you looking like your happy to see someone) it touches all kinds of other grime... and other thing, when i not at work who wants to lug around a huge phone? I don't get what all the hype is about. Take the phone /palm option seprately would my choice if asked.

 

[DOctorJay]

what other equipment are you people touching before you wash your hands???

 

[ramonaquimby]

Take the phone /palm option seprately would my choice if asked.

i totally agree!!...[sigh]...