In healthcare, hygiene isn’t optional. Most people think about gloves, hand sanitizers, and surface wipes. But precautions don’t just stop there. Bacteria contamination can spread easily even if the surface looks clean. And some surfaces are the opposite of easy to clean and keep tidy. Think about the handle of a door or cash. Within the IT world, think about keyboards, mice, and monitors. It’s singular, considering how much we all touch them.
Today is World Hepatitis Day, a moment to raise awareness about the viruses that silently affect over 300 million people worldwide. The theme of this year is to Break It Down:
- Hepatites is a Viral infection that hits the liver and affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
- Most time the infections happens when there is contact with infected blood.
The World Health Organization suggest to:
- Get tested for hepatitis B and C.
- Vaccinate newborns with the hepatitis B birth dose within 24 hours.
- Learn the facts and talk to your healthcare provider about early testing and treatment.
- Help stop stigma by sharing accurate information.
Viral Spread
Hepatitis B and C can survive on surfaces for hours, even days in some cases. While these viruses are mostly spread through blood, in a clinical or shared setting, good hygiene habits around all high-touch surfaces matter. This include also keyboards and mice.
Especially in hospitals and labs, tech devices become a part of the hygiene chain. But unlike a countertop or a surgical tray, your average keyboard isn’t exactly easy to clean, and also potentially very dirty. When was the last time you cleaned yours…? Crevices, seams, and uneven surfaces make thorough disinfection challenging.
That is where companies like Medigenic and Alt step in. They design and manufacture silicone-covered IT peripherals specifically for hygiene-sensitive environments. Think keyboards with flat, sealed surfaces and mice that can be wiped down with alcohol-based cleaners in seconds. Some even include built-in alert systems to remind users when it’s time to clean them.
These devices are built to reduce the risk of microbial transmission in places where cleanliness can literally save lives.
Finding solutions that actually work
It’s easy to claim a device as “washable”, but making something that’s both hygienic and user-friendly is another story. Take mousepads, for example. Medigenic spent over two years trying to find the right material. Silicone was too grippy. Cloth moved around too much. Glass and aluminum were too expensive or not practical. Eventually, they settled on a surface that was non-slip, fully cleanable, and smooth enough for accurate mouse tracking. That kind of attention to detail is what makes these products different. They’re not trying to reinvent the mouse or the keyboard. They’re just making them smarter for clinical life.
Conclusion
Working in the assistive technology sector, Alt aims at not only design, developing and providing solutions for certain problem; but also does its part in sharing, and creating awareness in regard of these issues. It reflects our mission and also the goal of this year theme: Help stop stigma by sharing accurate information.
At Alt, we’re not just here to design assistive tech, we try our best to make a difference. That means raising awareness, sharing facts, and sparking conversations that matter. On World Hepatitis Day, we stand behind this year’s theme: “Help stop stigma by sharing accurate information.”
