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

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

scholarly journals PREVALENCE AND TYPE OF MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM PHONES USED BY MEDICAL STAFFS/STUDENTS, WORKING/STUDYING IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

2021 ◽  
pp. 54-56
Author(s):  
ANUSHA CAROLINE SAROJ S. ◽  
R. PREETHY ◽  
ROSY VENNILA
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Care Center ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Contamination Rate ◽  
Tertiary Care Center ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Standard Culture

Objective: To find out the prevalence and type of microorganisms isolated from mobile phones used by health care workers, students working/studying in a tertiary care center as well as to find the rate of contamination of the hands of the individual. Methods: Swabs moistened with sterile saline was used to swab on phone surfaces and was incubated using standard culture and identification methods. The respective user was instructed to imprint their fingers of both hands on plates of culture media. These were incubated and processed as per standard culture methods. Results: The most common isolated microorganisms in both groups were Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) and MSSA. Among Mobile phones of HCW, the highest contamination rate was noted in physicians 70% followed by Intensive care doctors 60%, and Nurses. Finger impression growth rate was observed high among Nurses 70% followed by Intensive care doctors 60% and physicians 40%. Conclusion: There is found to be a moderate contamination rate of mobile phones and fingers with pathogenic bacteria as well as normal flora of skin isolated from health care workers. Mobile phones and hands of Health care workers serve as a potential reservoir for hospital-acquired infections as multi-drug resistant pathogenic bacteria. In order to reduce the incidence of nosocomial infections, there should be an implementation of handwashing practices.

scholarly journals KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF HAND HYGIENE AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN KARACHI

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 123-127
Author(s):  
Imran Ahmed ◽  
Asif Khan ◽  
Abdul Ahad Sohail ◽  
Mujeeb-ur- Rehman
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Hospital Acquired ◽  
Tertiary Care Hospitals

Background: Hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are one of the most common problems encountered in health care. It is a major cause of concern for hospitals throughout the world. Methods: The study design was cross sectional and data was obtained from health care workers currently employed in hospitals. We selected tertiary care hospitals by convenient sampling technique. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 20. Results: A total of 330 health care workers were included in the study out of which 54.4% (180) were males and the rest 45.4% (150) were females. When the participants were asked of the minimum time required for alcohol based hand rub to eradicate the microorganisms, only 42% (138) were able to correctly answer that it takes 20 seconds. Conclusion: Our study identified considerable gaps in knowledge and practice in some key areas regarding hand hygiene which need re-emphasis through regular training sessions aim at keeping abreast with standard protocols of hand hygiene.

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