Mobile communication devices help accelerate the hospital flow of medical information but can serve as a "foe" for the patients when they act as a potential vector for transmitting nosocomial infections. This study aimed to describe the role of the cell phones in transmitting bacteria to dominant hands of the HCW’s in the various ICU’s as MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences, emphasizing the role of mobiles in the spread of HAI. It was a cross-sectional study including HCW’s at various ICU’s in our hospital. Samples for culture and sensitivity were collected from the dominant hand and the mobile phones of each study participant and were processed according to standard guidelines. Questionnaire about mobile phone usage, hand hygiene and disinfection practices were administered and assessed. 30% of the study participants never cleaned their mobile phones. The most common bacterial isolate from the hands were Staphylococcus aureus (44%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CONS - 36%), while from cell phone swabs were similarly S. aureus (43%) and CONS (36%). The MRSA isolates from hands and cell phone were 33% and 17% respectively. Gram- negative bacteria were isolated from 15% of the hand swabs and 7% of the mobile swabs respectively. On sensitivity testing, 34% and 25% of these GNB from hand and mobile were ESBL producers. Simple measures like hand washing, cleaning of mobile phones with 70% isopropyl alcohol and a well-practiced infection control plan to bring down the rate of hospital acquired infections are recommended. | Microbial contamination of mobile phones a potential threat to the patients: A cross sectional study
