It was so great to be back at the IPS National Conference this year!
Infection Prevention 2026 was a chance to return to the Infection Prevention Society’s annual conference at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on September 28–29 and reconnect with infection prevention professionals from across the UK. The conference brought together experts, frontline practitioners, researchers, and innovators across topics ranging from decontamination science and antimicrobial stewardship to AI and digital innovation.
With so many different conversations happening throughout the conference, some of the ones that stood out most to our team happened right at the booth.
“We know keyboards are a problem.”
One thing that stood out almost immediately was how many nurses and infection prevention professionals already understood the challenges surrounding keyboards. People came over wanting to talk about washable keyboards and mice. Some already knew about Seal Shield, while others wanted to see and feel the different models for themselves.
The Seal Silk Pro was one of the products that generated a lot of interest. Attendees liked the look and feel of the silicone keyboard, particularly the tactile feedback, and were pleasantly surprised by the price point.
What was especially interesting was how easily people could picture the keyboard in their own workspaces. Rather than looking at a washable keyboard as a one-size-fits-all solution, conversations turned toward where different models could make sense throughout a facility.
A clinical workstation, nurses’ station, reception area, WOWs and other shared spaces can all have different needs. Having access to different washable keyboard and mouse models gives teams more flexibility to choose what works for each workspace while still considering their infection prevention and control requirements.
For us, it was a good reminder that sometimes the best product conversations start with simply giving people the opportunity to see, touch, and compare the options for themselves.
“Want to come sanitize your phone?”
While the keyboard conversations were a major part of the event, there was another easy way to get the conversation started. We simply asked them if they would like to sanitize their phones.
It may seem like a small thing, but phones can carry a surprising amount of bacteria. A recent study of 300 healthcare workers found that 90% of their mobile phones were contaminated, and 59.6% carried multidrug-resistant organisms.
That makes phones an important part of the infection prevention conversation, especially when they move between clinical areas, workstations, patients, and home. The same goes for other high-touch devices, including tablets and shared mobile equipment that may pass between multiple users.
That’s why having both CleanSlate and ElectroClave at the conference gave attendees a chance to see device disinfection in action and try the systems for themselves.
- CleanSlate is designed for rapid, everyday sanitization of handheld devices. Its 20-second cycle makes it practical for high-traffic, public areas and workflows where a phone can be sanitized and returned to use quickly.
- ElectroClave takes a different approach, combining UV-C sanitization with device management for organizations managing shared mobile devices. Its 60-second cycle uses 360-degree, mercury-free LED UV-C technology and can help organizations track device status and compliance.
Both systems are designed for hard, non-porous devices and surfaces and are effective against MRSA, and C. Auris up to a 6-log reduction.
Having both systems at the event also helped us have a broader conversation about where UV-C can fit into an IPC workflow, whether that means quickly sanitizing a personal phone or managing a larger fleet of shared devices.
Thank you, Leeds
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the Seal Shield booth, sanitized a phone, tested a keyboard, asked questions, or shared what you’re currently using in your facility. It was great to be back with the Infection Prevention Society and to meet so many professionals from across the UK. We’re looking forward to continuing the conversations long after Leeds.
