This study was conducted to determine whether mobile phones of healthcare workers (HCWs) and T corporate users harbour micro-organisms. Swabs collected from mobile phones were inoculated in solid and liquid media, and incubated aerobically. Growth was identified as per standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined for Staphylococcus aureus. A questionnaire was used for data collection on awareness of mobile phone use. Of 51 HCWs and 36 corporate mobile phones sampled, only 5 (6%) showed no growth. Pathogens isolated from HCW samples included S. aureus [meticillin-sensitive S. aureus (4), meticillin-resistant S. aureus (2)], Escherichia coli (1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1). Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (43) were also isolated. Among corporate isolates, 29% were pathogenic. Polymicrobial growth was detected in 71% of HCW and 78% of corporate mobile phones. Only 12% of HCWs used disinfectants to wipe their mobile phones. Mobile phones serve as a ready surface for colonisation of nosocomial agents indicating the importance of hand hygiene to prevent cross-transmission.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.