Nosocomial hazards of Doctor's mobile phones in hospitals

Abstract

A microbiological analysis of 75 doctor's mobile phones was carried out in Amravati city. A total of 90 bacterial pathogens were isolated, Staphylococcus aureus 18 (20%) was prominent followed by Micrococcus luteus 16 (18%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 14 (15%), Proteus mirabilis 10 (11%), Escherichia coli 10 (11%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 9 (10%), Enterobacter aerogenes 8 (9%) and Salmonella typhi 5 (5%). The male doctor's mobile phones were more (69%) contaminated as compared to female doctor's phones (31%). The study demonstrates that mobile phone in a clinical setting become contaminated by contact with healthcare workers' hands (HCWs') and acts as potential source to spread infection is an important argument in any debate, in which the relaxation of restrictions on its use is being considered.