Microbiological Profile of Organisms Cultured from Medical Staff Mobile Phones in ICU Units at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Mobile phones are widely used as portable electronic devices for communication and it is in close contact with the body of health care workers (HCW). Mobile phones may serve as vectors for the nosocomial transmission of microorganisms.

Aim of this work: To evaluate the role of mobile phones in relation to the transmission of bacteria from the mobile phones to the health care workers (HCW) hands in intensive care units. This study was conducted in intensive care units(ICU); A total of 82 staff-12 Professors, 10 Associate professors, 20 Assistant professors, 4 PG’s, 15 House surgeons, 21 Nursing staff represented the materials for this study.

Samples Collection and Cultures: Obtained from the mobile phones of the participants. Isolated microorganisms were identified and allocated to appropriate genera.

Results: 21swabs showed growth of E.coli, 25 swabs showed growth of klebshiella, 10 showed growth of pseudomonas, 5 showed growth of proteus, 6 bacillus and 15 showed no growth.

Conclusion: This study confirmed that mobile phones were contaminated with nosocomial pathogens. The use of mobile phones in ICU may have serious hygienic consequences. It is needed to work at various levels to minimize the risk of mobile phones as vectors for pathogen transmission. Multidisciplinary hospital infection control teams should develop active preventive policies and stratergies to reduce crossinfection caused by mobile phones in intensive care units4.