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MDR bacteria found on cellphones of hospitalized patients
Tekerekoglu MS. Am J Infect Control. 2011;39:379-381.
Researchers from Turkey have reported a potential health risk from the cellphones of patients, patients’ companions and visitors in hospital settings, serving as a host to multidrug-resistant bacteria that can cause severe infections among hospitalized patients, according to new findings from the American Journal of Infection Control.
Previous research has indicated bacterial growth on cellphones of health care workers; however, there are little data regarding the infection threat offered by the cellphones of others, according to the study.
“Mobile phones of patients seem to be the reservoir of many pathogenic bacteria,”Mehmet Sait Tekerekoglu, MD, associate professor from Inonu University in Malatya, Turkey, told Infectious Disease News. “Infection control practitioners must regard this threat. Although many procedures are performed to reduce bacterial colonization in hospital environments, mobile phones of patients have been ignored.”
Tekerekoglu and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study in an 800-bed tertiary care referral hospital to determine bacterial colonization on cellphones.
The researchers collected and cultured swab samples from the keypad, microphone and ear part of 133 cellphones used by patients, patients’ companions, visitors, and 67 cell phones used by health care workers (HCWs).
Results indicated that cellphones used by patients, their companions and their visitors were nearly twice as likely to carry pathogens compared with those of HCWs (39.6% vs. 20.6%, respectively; P=.02).
The researchers found that the most frequently isolated bacteria were coagulase-negative staphylococci in 101 phones of patients and companions, and 52 phones belonging to HCWs.
In addition, there were no MDR pathogens present on the phones of HCWs, whereas seven patients’ cellphones had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., high-level aminoglycoside-resistant Enterococcus spp., and carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.
“Our findings suggest that mobile phones of patients, patients’ companions and visitors represent higher risk for nosocomial pathogen colonization than those of HCWs,” the researchers wrote. “Specific infection control measures may be required for this threat.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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