The Mobile Phone in a Tropical Setting - Emerging Threat for Infection Control

Background: Mobile phones act as perfect habitat for microbes to breed, especially in high temperature and humid conditions. and may serve as vectors in transmitting nosocomial infections. This study was conducted to determine the potential of mobile phones to harbour microorganisms in health care workers in hospital environments and to compare with contamination among mobile phone users in a corporate office. Methods: Surface samples were taken from mobile phones of health care workers (HCW) and personnel from a corporate office. Sterile swabs were moistened with sterile demineralised water and rotated over both the surfaces of the mobile phone. Swabs were inoculated in thioglycollate broth and streaked over Blood agar and MacConkey agar plates. Plates were incubated aerobically at 37 ◦C for 24—48 h. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were identified as per standard microbiological procedures. Antibiotic susceptibility test by Kirby Bauer Disk Diffusion method was done. A questionnaire was submitted to owners regarding awareness and usage of mobile phones. Results: In all 51 HCW mobile phones and 36 from a corporate office were sampled, Pathogens isolated from mobile phones from HCW were Staphylococcus aureus (4), MRSA (2), Escherichia coli (1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1) and Coagulase negative staphylococci (43). Though 78 bacterial isolates were isolated from 36 samples fewer pathogens were isolated from corporate users. Polymicrobial growth (2 species) was detected in 58% of HCW mobile phones and 44%, (3 species) of office users. Among HCW, 74.51% and 36.7% of corporate users were aware that mobile phones harbour microorganisms and transmit infections. Only 11.77% HCW’s use disinfectants to wipe their mobile phones. Conclusion: The study indicates that there is potential threat of mobile phones spreading infections and the importance of hand hygiene to prevent infection.