Disinfection Technology/Methods for Computer Equipment?

smammon asks: "I manage the IT department for a pretty average hospital. Our equipment is used everywhere, including the patient rooms, operating suites, and hallways. We expect it to move into more areas (hands) in the future with advent of more and more wireless/handheld technology. Our problem is that even with constant employee education and regular maintenance/cleaning efforts on our part - it is still very common for equipment to become contaminated with all manner of nasty goo. We have been looking for a method of disinfection that kills the bugs without killing the equipment. So far the only reasonably good looking alternative is vaporized hydrogen peroxide. Problem is that it's not known to positively kill the kind of tough bug that lives on surfaces. Anyone know of, developing, or selling a method for disinfection of sensitive equipment? Any innovative solutions from the geek collective?"

Comments

Plastic

[Henry V .009]

Wrap up everything with plastic. Switch out the plastic.
/low-budget

Bad keyboard? Throw it away!

[Micro$will]

Keep the computers and monitors in goo proof cases, and maintain a supply of disposable keyboards and mice. Keyboards and mice can be had for less than $10 retail, and much less than that online or wholesale. The other alternative is those $40 waterproof keyboards. I don't know of any waterproof pointing devices though. Perhaps some industrial strength touchpads?

Re:Something anhydrous, naturally

[dacarr]

Point there, but what if then they did that ultrasonic bath in the stuff? The problem with hydrous mixtures is that you will have to allow your components to dry out for *days*, and even then there's no guarantee oxidation won't happen.