Mobile Phones of Healthcare Professionals
Hospital acquired infections are a major worldwide health problem in all hospital settings. The use of mobile phones could act as a fomite for microorganisms and it can transmit pathogenic as well as nonpathogenic microorganisms.
To determine the bacterial contamination rate of mobile phones of Health Care Workers (HCWs) and to describe their microbiological profile, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Al-Jumhory Teaching Hospital, Sana’a. Sterile swabs were collected from cell phone of 46 healthcare workers (HCWs), doctors, nurses and dustman, at different departments. The samples were processed as per standard microbiological techniques and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed.
The study revealed that bacterial growth was positive in 27 out of 46 (58%) mobile phones, out of which 20 (43%) were of male and 7 (15%) of female. The most commonly isolated bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus followed by Bacillus spp. as 51.3% and 26.92% respectively. Most of the isolates were from doctors (51.43%) followed by nurses (51.43%). The order of wards according to number of isolates was: the ICU, NCU, EMR, and BCU with a statistical significant difference between the growth bacteria and non-growth bacteria according to a ward (P=0.003 & X2=13.7). Gentamycin was the most effective antibiotic against Bacillus spp. and S. aureus. Moreover, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was identified in 25% and Multiple Drug Resistant (MDR) bacteria were detected in 65% and 67 % for S. aureus and Bacillus spp.
In conclusion, more than one-half of the HCWs mobile phones were contaminated by bacteria and HCWs’ mobile phones may serve as potentially vectors for transmission of nosocomial infections particularly MRSA. Therefore, it is recommended to make infection control guidelines, which target the use of suitable disinfectants to avoid mobile phone contamination.
Key words: Bacterial contamination, mobile phones, Healthcare workers, Sana’a, Yemen.
