Involvement of Mobile phones as a source for Nosocomial infections

Background: Mobile phones are communication devices for communication nowadays and have emerged as a need of our life. Mobile phones also act as a reservoir for microorganisms. Human skin, wallets, bags, environment and food items are major sources of contamination for mobile phones. Medical students, healthcare workers and other non-teaching staff nowadays use mobile phones for communication in the workplace. Mobile phone contamination spreads from surfaces to hands. Aims and Objective: Our study was aimed to investigate the contamination of mobile phones by pathogens among health care workers. The objective of this study was to document for the role of mobile phones as sources in nosocomial infections. Materials and Methods: The study was done in Department of Microbiology and Pathology, Era’s Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, including teaching staffs from hospital and college, health care workers in all laboratories and wards. A total of 200 swab samples from various mobile phones of medical and technical staff of various wards, Outpatient Department Treatment, laboratories was collected after taking informed written consent from them. Culture was done on Blood Agar, MacConkey Agar, and Sabouraud’s dextrose agar. After overnight incubation, colonies were identified by Gram’s stain and Biochemical tests. Results: Highest mobile phone users are medical students, residents followed by teaching faculty. Smart phones or touch screen mobiles were used by maximum ie.90.5%. Among the isolated bacteria, Bacillus (39.5%), CONS (19%), E.coli (15.5%), Klebsiella (10.5%), Pseudomonas (5.5%), Staphylococcus aureus (4%), Enterococcus (2.5%). No growth was seen in 3.5%mobile phone sample cultures. Not a single fungal pathogen was isolated. Conclusion: The findings is the present study suggests that the mobile phones used by medical staff and health care workers act as source of transmission vehicles for pathogenic microorganisms.

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BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF HANDS OF MEDICAL INTERNS AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research ◽

10.22159/ajpcr.2017.v10i12.20908 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. 145

Author(s):

Sunandha Senthil ◽

Ashwini Hegde ◽

Vaman Kulkarni ◽

Radhakrishna M

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Medical Students ◽

Hand Hygiene ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Nosocomial Infections ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Care Workers ◽

Cross Transmission ◽

Medical Interns

Objective: Cross-transmission by the hands of health-care workers is considered the main route of spread of nosocomial infections. Awareness among medical students and interns about the importance of hand hygiene practices and facilities for its adherence can play a major role in reducing disease transmission. The objectives of the present study were: (1) To determine the level and type of microbial contamination present on the hands of medical students and interns from a teaching hospital of Mangalore, Karnataka, and (2) to evaluate the relationship between hand contamination and knowledge, attitude, and practices of hand hygiene.Methods: Swabs were obtained from the dominant hand and the skin surface beneath the rings of participants during their routine work hours. Laboratory analysis was carried out within one hour of collection of samples. The participants were asked to fill a questionnaire on hand hygiene. Descriptive statistics and analysis was done by Chi-square test.Results: Of the 70 study participants, 35 (50%) were medical undergraduate students and 35 (50%) were medical interns. The contamination rate was higher among the undergraduates (91.4% [32/35]) compared to interns (77.1% [27/35]). 38 (54%) participants hands were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, of which 17 (44.7%) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Although overall knowledge status about hand hygiene was good, concepts about certain key elements in hand hygiene were not clearly understood by the participants. Knowledge about alcohol-based hand rubs was not up to the mark. The level of knowledge was found to be similar between UGs and interns and between the genders. Wearing ring while handling patients had an influence on hand contamination.Conclusions: Although the overall knowledge about hand hygiene was good, very few participants knew that hand hygiene after exposure to immediate surroundings of patient can prevent cross-transmission. Health-care workers may unknowingly carry antibiotic-resistant bacteria on their hands. Being unaware of this fact may have serious repercussions as the students and interns may serve as a medium for the spread of nosocomial infections.

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Rubella immunity in medical students: implications for health‐care workers

The Medical Journal of Australia ◽

10.5694/j.1326-5377.1988.tb120586.x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 149 (4) ◽

pp. 227-228 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

T.T. Nichols ◽

M. Bucens

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Medical Students ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Care Workers

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Investigation of Microbial Contamination of Health Care Workers’ Mobile Phones in Intensive Care Units and Operating Room

Klimik Dergisi/Klimik Journal ◽

10.5152/kd.2018.61 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (3) ◽

pp. 227-231

Author(s):

Nevcivan Guldas ◽

◽

Sema Alp-Cavus ◽

Zeynep Gulay ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Operating Room ◽

Intensive Care Units ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Microbial Contamination ◽

Care Workers

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ISOLATION AND ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY PATTERN OF MICRO - ORGANISM CAPABLE OF NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS THROUGH MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN OBSTETRIC DEPARTMENT OF TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Journal of Evidence Based Medicine and Healthcare ◽

10.18410/jebmh/2015/685 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2 (33) ◽

pp. 4897-4902 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Neelam Sharma ◽

Anshul Jhanwar

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Tertiary Care Hospital ◽

Tertiary Care ◽

Antibiotic Sensitivity ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Care Workers ◽

Sensitivity Pattern ◽

Obstetric Department

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Are mobile phones of health care workers portals of pathogenic organisms causing hospital acquired infections in intensive care units? A mini systematic review

Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics ◽

10.4314/njp.v47i3.3 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (3) ◽

pp. 207-214

Author(s):

M. Mukhtar-Yola ◽

B. Andrew

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Intensive Care Units ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Hospital Acquired Infections ◽

Care Workers ◽

Hospital Acquired

Background: Health care workers at the bedside of critically ill babies freely carry their mobile phones in between procedures and handling patients. Concerns are rising as this may contribute to nosocomial infections with pathogenic bacteria. Aim: To determine if mobile phones of health care workers in Intensive care units carry potentially pathogenic bacteria leading to hospital acquired infections. Design: Systematic review.Data sources: Electronic databases (Medline via ovid, CINAHL, Web of science) and hand Searching of references and citations were done to identify studies. Screening and inclusion criteria were used to identify studies with a cross-sectional or cohort design. The search was limited to journal articles published between 2008-2015 and to English language. Quality assessment was done using the National Institute of Health tool for observational studies. Data was extracted on to excel sheets and analysed using SPSS version 22.Results: Six studies with a cohort (1) or cross-sectional design (5) involving 1, 131 health care workers were reviewed. The overall quality of the studies was fair, and a narrative synthesis was done. The colonization rate of the mobile phones ranged between 46.3 % and a 100% with 13-50% carrying potentially pathogenic multidrug resistant microorganisms. Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus, Vancomycine resistant enterococci, acinobacter and coagulase negative staphylococci were reported across all studies and were recognized as leading causes of morbidity and mortalityin the ICU. Conclusion: Mobile phones Of HCW are portals of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, which could result in morbidity and mortality.Although no causal relationship could be established, strong associations have been reported. Guidelines by hospital infection control committees are needed on restriction, care and routine cleaning of mobile phones as well as further research. Key words: Health care worker, Intensive care unit, Hospital Acquired Infections, mobile phones

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Awareness among health care professionals regarding nosocomial pathogens and role of fomites in their transmission.

The Professional Medical Journal ◽

10.29309/tpmj/2020.27.05.4149 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 27 (05) ◽

pp. 1032-1037

Author(s):

Khadija Mumtaz ◽

Nadia Aslam ◽

Naima Mehdi ◽

Nazma Kiran ◽

Sadaf Farzand ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Nosocomial Infections ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Basic Knowledge ◽

Care Hospital ◽

Nosocomial Pathogens ◽

Care Workers ◽

Health Care Associated Infections ◽

Tract Infections

Objectives: This study was performed to access the knowledge of health care professionals regarding health care associated infections, nosocomial pathogens, fomites and their role in transmission of nosocomial pathogens. Study Design: Descriptive, questionnaire based, cross-sectional study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital of Lahore, Punjab. Period: From October 2017 to January 2018. Material & Methods: Questionnaires were carefully formulated to access basic knowledge of physicians, surgeons and nurses. Responses given were analyzed and recorded as frequency and percentage. Results: Regarding health care associated infections, respiratory tract infections were identified by 72% surgeons, 65% physicians and 59% nurses. Surgical wound infections were identified by 76% of surgeons and 81% nurses. 45.7% physician identified bacteraemia as nosocomial infection. Rate of identification for rest of nosocomial infections was sub optimum (<50%) by health care workers. Regarding identification of nosocomial pathogens, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus was marked by 65% of physicians, 83.8% of nurses, 76% of surgeons. Pseudomonas nosocomial pathogen was identified by 40%, 46% and 64% of physicians, nurses and surgeons respectively. The rate of identification for rest of the nosocomial organisms was again sub optimum (<40%) by health care workers. Regarding fomites, mattresses and pillows, thermometer, stethoscopes were identified by 75.7%, 59.2 and 50% of Health care professionals respectively. Conclusion: This survey identified positive attitude among Health care workers towards infection control but low level of knowledge regarding health care associated infections and nosocomial pathogens. Therefore, to prevent nosocomial infections, there is strong need to develop strategies for improving knowledge of Health care professionals.

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Healthcare Workers’ Mobile Phones as a Possible Vehicle of Nosocomial Pathogens and the Role of Different Disinfectants in their Decontamination

10.51429/ejmm30304 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

pp. 29-36

Author(s):

Rana E. Elgabeery ◽

Radwa A. Eissa ◽

Sohair M. Soliman ◽

Naglaa F. Ghoname

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Mobile Phones ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Colony Count ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Care Workers ◽

Before And After

Background: As Mobile Phones (MPs) aren’t cleaned routinely and have been touched during patient’s examination, they may become contaminated with hospital pathogens. Objectives: Screen MPs of Health care workers (HCWs) for pathogens and verify the effect of disinfectants in their decontamination. Methods: A questionnaire was submitted by 160 HCWs in Tanta University Hospitals. Samples were taken from their MPs and subjected to pour plate counting before and after disinfection. Standard identification and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates were done. Results: Colony count was greater in MPs used while caring for patients or inside restroom, and was less in regularly cleaned MPs. All tested disinfectants reduced the colony count significantly. Pathogens were isolated from 84.38% of samples and 36.25% of them were Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs). Conclusion: Using MPs at critical care areas and restroom may contribute to their contamination with pathogens. Regular disinfection of MPs can reduce this contamination.

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