Microbial contamination and efficacy of disinfection procedures of companion robots in care homes.

Journal: PloS one
PMID: 32845891

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Paro and other robot animals can improve wellbeing for older adults and people with dementia, through reducing depression, agitation and medication use. However, nursing and care staff we contacted expressed infection control concerns. Little related research has been published. We assessed (i) how microbiologically contaminated robot animals become during use by older people within a care home and (ii) efficacy of a cleaning procedure.

Authors

  • Hannah Louise Bradwell
    Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK hannah.bradwell@plymouth.ac.uk.
  • Christopher W Johnson
    Department of Microbiology, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro, Cornwall, United Kingdom.
  • John Lee
  • Rhona Winnington
    Department of Nursing, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • Serge Thill
    Centre for Robotics and Neural Systems, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK; School of Informatics, University of Skövde, 54128 Skövde, Sweden. Electronic address: serge.thill@plymouth.ac.uk.
  • Ray B Jones
    Faculty of Health and Human Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.

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