What is a medical keyboard?
A medical keyboard is a keyboard designed for use in healthcare and other hygiene-critical environments. Unlike consumer keyboards, they are built to endure repeated exposure to cleaning agents and disinfectants.
Official definition: There is no official certification body that defines the term “medical keyboard” or “medical grade keyboard” and a medical keyboard is not listed as a medical device.
Why choose a medical grade keyboard?
In healthcare, keyboards and mice are among the most frequently touched surfaces. Studies have shown that they can become a source of infection if not cleaned properly. Health authorities therefore recommend equipment that can withstand repeated cleaning.
Conventional keyboards contain gaps and crevices where bacteria can accumulate, making them difficult to disinfect thoroughly. Cleaning agents also damage consumer keyboards over time. Because keyboards are in constant use in healthcare settings, cleaning them can even result in accidental keystrokes. Medical keyboards address all these issues. Their smooth and waterproof design makes them easy to disinfect, leaving no place for pathogens to hide. They can also be locked during cleaning, so staff do not need to worry about unintended input.
Where are medical keyboards used?
Medical keyboards are essential wherever hygiene and data entry come together, both within healthcare and in other industries where strict cleanliness is required.
Hospitals & clinics
Medical keyboards are widely used in hospitals, appearing on mobile computer carts for patient data entry, at nursing stations, integrated into diagnostic and treatment equipment, and in high-risk areas such as intensive care units and operating theatres. They are also found in dental practices, GP surgeries, and veterinary clinics, where the same risks of cross-contamination apply.
Other hygiene sensitive environments
Beyond healthcare, medical keyboards are deployed in laboratories, pharmaceutical production facilities and food processing plants. In these sectors, sterility and cleanliness are just as critical. Regular disinfection of keyboards and mice helps to safeguard staff, prevent contamination of products or lab results, and comply with regulatory hygiene standards.
Medical keyboards by Man & Machine
Man & Machine offers a wide range of models tailored to specific hygiene requirements:
Fully sealed keyboards (IP68)
Our fully sealed silicone keyboards can be fully immersed for extended time in disinfecting fluid. This makes them suitable for the most demanding environments, such as operating theatres, intensive care units and aseptic production, where spilling incidents occur or a deep clean may be required. Models are available with or without touchpad and with or without numeric keypad.
Washable keyboards
Designed for everyday hygiene needs, these resemble premium office keyboards but can be rinsed and wiped clean without damage.
Washable keyboards with silicone cover
These keyboards feature a sterilizable silicone cover that can be removed and autoclaved, while still providing excellent typing comfort. Staff can quickly wipe the cover between uses, then sterilise it for deep cleaning.
Wireless medical keyboards
Offering a cable-free desk and simplified cleaning routines. Although convenient, users should consider potential risks such as battery charging, interference from other devices, or theft.
What should you consider when choosing a medical keyboard?
Selecting the right keyboard depends on both your working environment and your cleaning requirements. To make the best choice, consider the following factors:
- Cleaning & Disinfection – Can the keyboard be wiped, rinsed, sprayed, or fully immersed? Does it support sterilization if required?
- Ease of Use – Is the keyboard comfortable and efficient for the amount of typing your team needs to do?
- Available Space – Does it fit your workstation layout alongside other devices?
- Special Features – Do you need extras such as backlighting, integrated magnets, or a custom cable length?
- Keyboard Layout – Is the model available in the country-specific layout you require?
By evaluating these points, you can ensure the keyboard you choose is safe, practical, and tailored to your workflow.
Medical certifications and industry standards
Man & Machine keyboards comply with key international standards, ensuring safety, reliability and legal market access:
- CE/UKCA: mandatory for sales in Europe and Great Britain, confirming product conformity
- IP rating: indicates the level of protection against dust and water ingress. Read more about IP classification
- EN 60601: ensures electromagnetic safety in sensitive medical environments, reducing interference risks with medical devices. Read more about EN 60601
- RoHS: restricts the use of hazardous substances in electronics, protecting both human health and the environment.
- REACH: further limits the use of substances of very high concern in electronic components.
Download certificates and other documentation
Why choose Man & Machine?
Man & Machine medical keyboards and mice are recommended by leading Health-IT suppliers. Since our start in 1982, we have been carefully attending many thousands of satisfied customers worldwide. Medical keyboards are the core of our portfolio. Although our products are not medical devices, to provide evidence of their special suitability for use in the medical field, various of our products have been subjected to and passed the EMC test in line with the strict criteria of EN60601-1-2:2015. Customers value the quality and usability of our products as well as our fast, flexible and personal customer service.
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