Health Care Workers’ Mobile Phones: A Potential Cause of Microbial Cross-Contamination Between Hospitals and Community

Üstün, Cemal; Cihangiroğlu, Mustafa

doi:10.1080/15459624.2012.697419

Cited by 88 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…The results of most studies on MPs show that these items constitute a potential risk for the colonization of microorganisms and nosocomial infections [7,15,16,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24]35,48]. The use of MPs by HCWs increases the risk of repetitive cyclic contamination between the hands and face (e.g., nose, ears, and lips), and differences in personal hygiene and behaviors can further contribute to the risk [23].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These devices have touch screens used with fingers and finger tips, and thereby act as a potential vehicle for the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Furthermore, MPs of HCWs move daily between work, home, and other places, and children especially may be at risk because they commonly use the devices for their multimedia functions [15].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In daily routines, hands of HCWs are often contaminated by pathogens, and inadequate hand hygiene can allow the transfer that will result in HAIs. Telephones are rarely cleaned after handling and may transmit microorganisms, including multiple resistant ones, after contact with the patient, and can be a source of the bacterial crosscontamination [7,[13][14][15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are healthcare workers’ mobile phones a potential source of nosocomial infections? Review of the literature

Ülger

Dilek

Esen

et al. 2015

J Infect Dev Ctries

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Mobile communication devices help accelerate in-hospital flow of medical information, information sharing and querying, and contribute to communications in the event of emergencies through their application and access to wireless media technology. Healthcare-associated infections remain a leading and high-cost problem of global health systems despite improvements in modern therapies. The objective of this article was to review different studies on the relationship between mobile phones (MPs) and bacterial crosscontamination and report common findings. Thirty-nine studies published between 2005 and 2013 were reviewed. Of these, 19 (48.7%) identified coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and 26 (66.7%) identified Staphylococcus aureus; frequency of growth varied. The use of MPs by healthcare workers increases the risk of repetitive cyclic contamination between the hands and face (e.g., nose, ears, and lips), and differences in personal hygiene and behaviors can further contribute to the risks. MPs are rarely cleaned after handling. They may transmit microorganisms, including multiple resistant strains, after contact with patients, and can be a source of bacterial cross-contamination. To prevent bacterial contamination of MPs, hand-washing guidelines must be followed and technical standards for prevention strategies should be developed.Key words: healthcare workers; mobile phones; bacteria; nosocomial infection; contamination. J Infect Dev Ctries IntroductionThe rapid progress of modern technology has contributed not only to medical fields, but also to the development of technologies for individual use. This technology includes personal computers, pagers, mobile hand-held devices (MHDs) (wireless tablets such as iPad, droids, etc.) and mobile phones (MPs), in which improvements have been made at a staggering speed over the past 20 years [1][2][3]. MPs and MHDs help accelerate in-hospital flow of medical information and information sharing and querying, and contribute to communications in the event of emergencies through their application and access to wireless media technology [1,2]. As technology in this area has evolved, MHDs that provide laboratory and imaging results, patient data, and photographic images are being used by physicians during bedside rounds to engage clinicians, residents, and students. Healthcare workers (HCWs) access pharmaceutical knowledge and literature by MPs and MHDs, which facilitates learning and clinical performance [4,5]. It is possible,

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Are healthcare workers’ mobile phones a potential source of nosocomial infections? Review of the literature

Ülger

Dilek

Esen

et al. 2015

J Infect Dev Ctries

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“…Mobile phones contaminated with nosocomial pathogens in hospital settings have been acknowledged as potential vectors for transferring nosocomial germs inside the hospital and also to the 1community. 1 Still the contamination of schoolchildren's mobile phones with bacteria and the consequent possible occurrence of antibiotic resistance has not been studied in sufficient detail yet.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High level bacterial contamination of secondary school students’ mobile phones

Kõljalg

Mändar

Sõber³

et al. 2017

GERMS

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Introduction While contamination of mobile phones in the hospital has been found to be common in several studies, little information about bacterial abundance on phones used in the community is available. Our aim was to quantitatively determine the bacterial contamination of secondary school students' mobile phones.Methods Altogether 27 mobile phones were studied. The contact plate method and microbial identification using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer were used for culture studies. Quantitative PCR reaction for detection of universal 16S rRNA, Enterococcus faecalis 16S rRNA and Escherichia coli allantoin permease were performed, and the presence of tetracycline (tetA, tetB, tetM), erythromycin (ermB) and sulphonamide (sul1) resistance genes was assessed.Results We found a high median bacterial count on secondary school students' mobile phones (10.5 CFU/cm 2 ) and a median of 17,032 bacterial 16S rRNA gene copies per phone. Potentially pathogenic microbes (Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus cereus and Neisseria flavescens) were found among dominant microbes more often on phones with higher percentage of E. faecalis in total bacterial 16S rRNA. No differences in contamination level or dominating bacterial species between phone owner's gender and between phone types (touch screen/keypad) were found. No antibiotic resistance genes were detected on mobile phone surfaces. Conclusion Quantitative study methods revealed high level bacterial contamination of secondary school students' mobile phones.

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“…Other similar studies also reported Pseudomonas species in addition to previous germs (12)(13)(14)(15). In 2012, Ustun et al reported that among 183 samples that were collected from cell phones of physicians, nurses and laboratory staffs, 179 (97.8%) were contaminated including Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) producing E. coli (11.2%) and MRSA (9.5%) (16).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Evaluation of Shift Work on Bacterial Contamination of Cellular Phone of Health Care Staff at Adult Trauma Intensive Care Unit

et al. 2015

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Background: The goal of this study was to explore the effect of a shift work at adult trauma intensive care units on microbial contamination of cellular phones. Prevalence and type of microorganisms on intensive care unit (ICU) staff mobile phones is considered as a major route for transmission of infection. Methods: As a cross sectional study, cultures of mobile phone of 80 staff working at six adult trauma ICUs (54 beds) of a tertiary university affiliated hospital in Shiraz (Iran), were obtained, upon start and at the end of a shift. Samples were sent to the microbiologic laboratory of the hospital and cultured on specified media. Results: From 80 cell phones, 74 (92.5%) were contaminated upon entrance to ICU. Microorganisms included Staphylococcus coagulase negative 48 (60%), Bacillus 16 (20%), Acinetobacter 3 (3.75%) and others (Enterobacter, non hemolytic Streptococcus, E. coli and Serratia) with prevalence of 7 (8.75%). In comparison, exit cultures were positive for 49 (62.6%) of the cell phones that compromised of 34 (43.8%) coagulase negative Staphylococcus, 8 (10%) Bacillus, 2 (2.5%) Acinetobacter, and 5 (5.3%) contaminations with other microorganisms. Results showed a significant reduction in positive cultures at exit time from ICU. No correlation could be found between age, marital status, work experience in either hospital or ICU and changes in contamination of mobile phones. There was only a relationship between shift time and microbial colonization, which was more prevalent in night shifts followed by afternoon and morning shifts. Acinetobacter contamination of mobile phones of healthcare workers was more prevalent upon entrance to ICU than at exit time. Conclusions: High prevalence of cellular phone contamination with potential microorganisms is a major concern in adult trauma ICUs. Contamination of this equipment is more prevalent upon start of shift work, so a reverse transmission of bacteria may take place. Prevalence of Acinetobacter on entrance cultures necessitates special consideration. Infection control strategies to reduce cell phone colonization of trauma ICU staff, should be applied.

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Health Care Workers’ Mobile Phones: A Potential Cause of Microbial Cross-Contamination Between Hospitals and Community

Cited by 88 publications

References 23 publications

Are healthcare workers’ mobile phones a potential source of nosocomial infections? Review of the literature

Are healthcare workers’ mobile phones a potential source of nosocomial infections? Review of the literature

High level bacterial contamination of secondary school students’ mobile phones

Evaluation of Shift Work on Bacterial Contamination of Cellular Phone of Health Care Staff at Adult Trauma Intensive Care Unit

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