Surface Microbiology of the iPad Tablet Computer and the Potential to Serve as a Fomite in Both Inpatient Practice Settings as Well as Outside of the Hospital Environment

Tablet computers can be reservoirs of pathogens and a means by which organisms can be moved from patient to patient within a variety of healthcare institutions and infection prevention strategies related to the devices should be employed. The study at Northeastern University was designed to elucidate the presence of microorganisms on iPads under conditions of normal usage and to compare species prevalence by type of practice site.