Cell Phones- The New Vehicle of Bacterial Transmission-Current Scenario

Abstract

Introduction: Nosocomial infections are a major concern in any hospital setting. Widespread utilisation of cell phones among health care professionals just like in the general population poses a potential threat of rampant spreading of MethicillinResistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Objectives: To study the bacterial colonization on mobile phone surfaces of heath care professionals and community residents and to compare the prevalence of MRSA on the surface of mobile phones of health care professionals and of community residents. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out among 200 cell phone user by taking swabs from the surface of the cell phones. 100 swabs from cell phones were taken from health care professionals in a tertiary care teaching hospital and another 100 swabs from cell phones were taken from the residents of the surrounding communities. Aerobic bacteria were identified as per standard microbiological procedures. Results: Aerobic bacterial growth on cell phones was observed in 64% of community residents and 43% of health care professionals. Staphylococcus aureus colonization was seen in 10 % of the health care professionals and in 4% of the community residents. Almost 60 % of the hospital isolated Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin resistant as compared to methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus growth in the community residents’ cell phones. Conclusion: Practice of disinfecting cell phones was lacking both in health care professionals and community residents. MRSA and MDR Pseudomonas were found in hospital subjects, which hold a threat of nosocomial infection. Escherichia coli and Enterococci were found in the community resident, thereby showing their lack of following proper hand hygiene.

Keywords

• bacterial colonization
• community residents
• health professional
• mobile phone