Öztürk, Recep Pamukkale Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Özel Çalışma Modülü Programı, Turkey , Ertop, Mestan Pamukkale Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Özel Çalışma Modülü Programı, Turkey , Parça, Osman Pamukkale Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Özel Çalışma Modülü Programı, Turkey , Ergin, Çağrı Pamukkale Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Tıbbi Mikrobiyoloji AD, Turkey

Investigation of Staphylococcus aureus colonization on hospital care workers’ mobile phones

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Purpose: Hospital care workers’ personal technological equipments may be a source for nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus infections. Today, commonly used personal mobile phones may be colonized by S.aureus. In this study, hospital care workers’ mobile phones at Pamukkale University Health, Research and Training Center, have been screened for S.aureus colonization. Materials and methods: In this research, a total of 165 mobile phone samples were used, taken 90 from doctors, 30 from nurses, 30 from ward secretaries and 15 from laboratory assistants. Samples were taken from mobile phone keywords by sterile swabs with soaked saline. Mannitol salt agar was used for screening S.aureus colonization. Conventional methods have been used for bacterial identification. All S.aureus strains were tested for methicillin resistance. Results: Out of 165 samples, 32 samples (totally 19.4%) 19 (21.1%) from doctors, 4 (13.3%) from nurses, 5 (16.6%) from ward secretaries and 4 (26.6%) from laboratory staff] were positive for S.aureus colonization. Methicillin resistance were positive in 3 (9.4% in strains; 1.8% in samples) S.aureus isolates. Conclusion: Health care workers’ personal equipments should be screened routinely and examined regularly in terms of S.aureus colonization. Continuing education programs to health care providers should also cover the disinfection protocols of personal communication equipment.

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Staphylococcus aureus , mobile phone , colonization , nosocomial , hospital care workers

Pamukkale Medical Journal

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