A Pilot Metagenomic Study Demonstrating Virtual Reality Head Mounted Displays Utilized in Medical Education Are Reservoirs of Viable Pathogenic Microbes

Goldsworthy, A., Olsen, M., Shiratuddin, M., McKirdy, S., Alghafri, R., Senok, A., Alfalasi, H., Wong, K., Tajouri, L. MicrobiologyOpen DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.70255

Abstract: Virtual reality devices are increasingly being utilized within operating theaters and intensive care units where appropriate sanitation is vital to ensure that patients do not unnecessarily acquire hospital‐associated infections. The morphology of VR devices in conjunction with the variety of materials and internal components provides challenges to their repurposing. This study aimed to evaluate the microorganisms remaining on VR headsets following sanitation by laboratory staff in a medical education anatomy teaching facility.