Mobile (Cellular) Phones Contamination with Nosocomial Pathogens in Intensive Care Units

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 forty beds intensive care unit (ICU); A total of 136 staff-20 senoir, 8 intensivests, 30 ward physicians (assistant doctors), 48 nurses and nurse aids and 30 persons supportive services and housekeepers-represented the materials for this study. Samples Collection and Cultures: Obtained from the dominant hand of the participants and their mobile phones at the same time. Isolated microorganisms were identified and allocated to appropriate genera. Results: Revealed contamination of mobile phones by bacteria and other microorganisms representing rate of 96.5%. Microorganisms from mobile phones and hands were similar and same of them are known causes of nosocomial infections. Staphylococcus aureus (SA) strains isolated from mobile phones 48.0% and 31% of these isolated from the hands were methicillin resistant (MRSA +ve). The gram negative strains isolated from 30.0% of the mobile phones and 32.0% from the hands were ceftazidime resistant strains. The nosocomial isolates at ICU were: 33% staphylococci, 20% non-fermentative gram negatives, 24% coliforms, 11% enterococci and 12.0% yeasts. The mean colony count was higher in ring using staff’s phones (p 0.05). The rate of routine cleaning of HCW’s mobile phones was 8.0% and 92% of the participants never cleaned their mobile phones. Although the assistant doctor’s phones have higher colony count; There was no significant difference in the rates of specific types of bacterial growth and colony counts isolated on all different group’s mobile phones. 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. Mul-tidisciplinary hospital infection control teams should develop active preventive polices and strategies to reduce cross-infection caused by mobile phones in intensive care units.