Advances in Medical Education and Practice (Oct 2021)

Microbiological Contamination of Mobile Phones and Mobile Phone Hygiene of Final-Year Medical Students in Uganda: A Need for Educational Intervention

  • Lubwama M,
  • Kateete DP,
  • Ayazika KT,
  • Nalwanga W,
  • Kagambo DB,
  • Nsubuga MD,
  • Arach AK,
  • Ssetaba LJ,
  • Wamala JN,
  • Rwot LA,
  • Kajumbula H

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 1247 – 1257

Abstract

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Margaret Lubwama,1 David P Kateete,2 Kirabo Tess Ayazika,1 Winnie Nalwanga,1 Douglas Bruno Kagambo,1 Mayanja David Nsubuga,1 Arnold Kingston Arach,1 Leoson Junior Ssetaba,1 Joyce N Wamala,3 Leah Amaro Rwot,3 Henry Kajumbula1 1Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Margaret LubwamaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaTel +256774440332Email [email protected]: Contaminated mobile phones act as reservoirs for organisms causing hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Little is known about medical school students’ awareness of infection prevention and control (IPC) regarding mobile phone use among medical students. We demonstrated the presence of organisms on mobile phones of final-year medical students at Makerere University College of Health Sciences and evaluated their awareness of IPC regarding mobile phone hygiene and use in a hospital setting.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, organisms from swabs obtained from 79 medical students’ mobile phones were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility test carried out using standard biochemical tests and the automated BD Phoenix instrument. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire to assess the students’ awareness. The analysis was carried out using STATA software version 16.Results: Seventy (88.6%) mobile phones were contaminated with at least one organism. One hundred forty-eight bacteria were isolated, of which 123 (83.1%) were Gram-positive, 24 (16.2%) were Gram-negative, and 1 (0.7%) was yeast (Candida spp). Coagulase negative staphylococci were the most frequently isolated among Gram-positive bacteria. Acinetobacter baumannii were the most frequently isolated among Gram-negative bacteria. The average IPC practical score regarding mobile phone hygiene (34%) was significantly lower than the average IPC awareness score (77%) (p ≤ 0.0001). Seventy-four (93.7%) students use their phones while rotating in the various wards. Forty (50.6%) of the students cleaned their phones with alcohol-based sanitizer after rotations in the ward. Thirty-five (44.3%) students were aware of IPC programs in the hospital they rotated in.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of bacterial contamination from mobile phones of medical students. The students had lower IPC practical scores compared to IPC awareness scores regarding mobile phone hygiene irrespective of the ward of rotation. Curriculum of final-year medical students should include IPC-related topics, which incorporate practical skills.Keywords: infection prevention and control, mobile phone contamination, medical students, Uganda

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