Disinfection of touchscreen, tablet, cell phone and co.

Neoxum screen protection, both as Neoxum screen film and as OnScreen® hybrid glass, is resistant to many disinfectants. This way, touchscreen displays, monitors, phones, tablets, and many other device displays are protected from aggressive disinfectants. No more worries about the display despite disinfection during this tense Corona crisis.

Ausführliche Testberichte sind im Downloadbereich verfügbar.

Überlebenszeit des Coronavirus auf Oberflächen

According to a study by American researchers on the survival time of coronavirus on surfaces ("Aerosol and surface stability of HCoV-19 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to SARS-CoV-1") [1], it was demonstrated that the new SARS-CoV-2 virus, correctly referred to as the coronavirus, can survive up to 4 hours on copper surfaces and up to 24 hours on cardboard and paperboard. On plastic surfaces and stainless steel, the coronavirus survives for two to three days. Unfortunately, there is no data on survival time on glass surfaces. However, it is reasonable to assume that these are similar to those for steel, i.e., 2-3 days. In the case of plastic surfaces on touchscreens, displays, mobile phones, and monitors, etc., which are constantly in contact with fingers, the infectious agent remains active for these two to three days, which could lead to potentially more people being infected with the Covid-19 disease.

Infection via the route of touchscreen, mobile phone, and the like.

In vielen Unternehmen sind Touchscreen und Displays aus dem Alltag aber nicht mehr wegzudenken. Denken wir alleine an die Bedienterminals an Maschinen, Touchscreen von medizinischen Geräten, an die Unterschrift auf den Zebra, Honeywell, Cipherlab, Datalogic Geräte dieser Welt, die wir leisten, wenn wir Pakete entgegennehmen oder auch im Lager Warenbewegungen quittieren. Nur eine gründliche Desinfektion der Displayoberfläche der Touch Geräte tötet den Virus zuverlässig ab. Dabei sind die Herstellerangaben der Desinfektionsmittelhersteller unbedingt einzuhalten. Der Sterillium Hersteller Bode Chemie schreibt zum Beispiel vor, dass für die Händedesinfektion eine Einwirkzeit von mindestens 30 Sekunden eingehalten werden muss.

Pathogens on touchscreens and displays

A study by London Metropolitan University [2] already concluded in 2018 that fecal bacteria, brought in by visitors, were found on the touchscreens of a well-known restaurant chain.

Robert Koch Institute recommends regular cleaning and disinfection.

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) provides clear recommendations and rules for handling touchscreens:
„Since keyboards and touchscreens are surfaces that are frequently touched by hand, they represent a possible route for the transmission of pathogens [3-6] and should therefore be considered in the hygiene plan.“
[Source: RKI][1] https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.09.20033217v1.full.pdf
[2] https://www.londonmet.ac.uk/news/articles/tests-find-traces-of-faeces-on-popular-restaurant-touchscreens/
[3] Rutala WA, White MS, Gergen MF et al.: Bacterial contamination of keyboards: efficacy and functional impact of disinfectants. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2006;27(4):372-7
[4] Fellowes C, Kerstein R, Clark J et al.: MRSA on tourniquets and keyboards. J Hosp Infect 2006;64(1):86-8
[5] Simmons N: Computer keyboards and the spread of MRSA. J Hosp Infect 2006;64(1):88
[6] Brady RR, Verran J, Damani NN et al.: Review of mobile communication devices as potential reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens. J Hosp Infect 2009;71(4):295-300

Stability of touchscreens and displays against disinfectants

Whether and how stable displays or touchscreens are against disinfectants over a longer period of time is something no one actually wants to try out. Alcohols and alcohol mixtures, along with other substance classes such as aldehydes, are approved for the professional disinfection of surfaces.

The provides guidance on disinfecting touchscreens and control surfaces: