Role of mobile phones as a possible source of nosocomial infections: A study in a tertiary care hospital

Mobile phones of health care workers (HCW) may harbor pathogenic microorganisms and act as a source of infections for patients. This study was conducted to determine the bacterial contamination of mobile phones in health care workers (HCW) and to compare it with mobile phones of non-HCW's.

Mobile phones of 125 HCW's were screened for bacterial contamination and it is compared with mobile phones of 125 non-HCW's. The isolated bacteria were identified using standard microbiological techniques.

The study revealed bacterial contamination in case of 120 mobile phones of HCW's and 121mobile phones from non-HCW's. Commonest organism isolated was Coagulase negative Staphylococci in both groups. 37bacterial isolates (30.83%) from HCW's were significant nosocomial pathogens whereas 46 isolates (38.01%) from non-HCW were pathogenic; Staphylococcus aureus being the most frequent isolate for both groups.

As mobile phones act as reservoir of micro-organisms among HCW's, frequent disinfection of these along with good hand hygiene practices is important for preventing transmission of infectious organisms. In addition screening of mobile phones for nosocomial pathogens and restricting their use in sensitive areas of hospital is also advisable.