Microbiological flora of mobile phones of resident doctors
Affiliation(s)
Department of Microbiology, Dr SC Government Medical College, Nanded, India. Department of Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, India.
Department of Microbiology, Dr SC Government Medical College, Nanded, India. Department of Community Medicine, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, India.
ABSTRACT
Background: Many studies revealed that devices like stethoscope, mobile phones can act as an important source of microbes capable of causing nosocomial infections. Hence there is need of defining their role in spreading infection, so that we can take some preventive measures against it. Aims: To screen the mobile phones of resident doctors and perform microbeological study of the organisms isolated. Setting: Resident doctors working at Tertiary Care Hospital. Methods: Swabs of 50 mobile phones of resident doctors were taken by sterile cotton swab and inoculated on Blood agar, MacConkey agar, Sabaraud’s dextrose agar. Isolated organisms were processed according to standard protocol. Results: Swabs of mobile phones of 50 resident doctors were analyzed for presence of micro-organisms. Out of the 50 samples, 30 (60%) were contaminated with micro-organisms. 32 micro-organisms were isolated from 50 mobile phones as shown in table 3. Among 32 isolates, Coagulase negative Staphylococci 23 (71.87%) was the dominant organism followed by Diphtheroids 7 (21.87%), Aspergillus niger 2 (6.25%). Also proportion of contamination of mobile phones of male resident doctors was more than female resident doctors. Conclusion: Mobile phones may act as a potential source of micro-organisms and spread nosocomial infections. Hence proper infection control practices like proper hand washing, decontamination of mobiles should be routinely practiced.
Background: Many studies revealed that devices like stethoscope, mobile phones can act as an important source of microbes capable of causing nosocomial infections. Hence there is need of defining their role in spreading infection, so that we can take some preventive measures against it. Aims: To screen the mobile phones of resident doctors and perform microbeological study of the organisms isolated. Setting: Resident doctors working at Tertiary Care Hospital. Methods: Swabs of 50 mobile phones of resident doctors were taken by sterile cotton swab and inoculated on Blood agar, MacConkey agar, Sabaraud’s dextrose agar. Isolated organisms were processed according to standard protocol. Results: Swabs of mobile phones of 50 resident doctors were analyzed for presence of micro-organisms. Out of the 50 samples, 30 (60%) were contaminated with micro-organisms. 32 micro-organisms were isolated from 50 mobile phones as shown in table 3. Among 32 isolates, Coagulase negative Staphylococci 23 (71.87%) was the dominant organism followed by Diphtheroids 7 (21.87%), Aspergillus niger 2 (6.25%). Also proportion of contamination of mobile phones of male resident doctors was more than female resident doctors. Conclusion: Mobile phones may act as a potential source of micro-organisms and spread nosocomial infections. Hence proper infection control practices like proper hand washing, decontamination of mobiles should be routinely practiced.
Cite this paper
Kokate, S. , More, S. , Gujar, V. , Mundhe, S. and Zahiruddin, Q. (2012) Microbiological flora of mobile phones of resident doctors. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 5, 696-698. doi: 10.4236/jbise.2012.511086.
Kokate, S. , More, S. , Gujar, V. , Mundhe, S. and Zahiruddin, Q. (2012) Microbiological flora of mobile phones of resident doctors. Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, 5, 696-698. doi: 10.4236/jbise.2012.511086.
References
[1] Killic, I.H., Ozaslan, M., Karagoz, I.D., Zer, Y. and Davatoglu, V. (2009) The microbial contamination of mobile phones used by healthcare staff. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 12, 882-884. [2] Datta, P., Rani, H., Chander, J. and Gupta V. (2009) Bacterial contamination of mobile phones of health care workers. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 27, 279-281. doi:10.4103/0255-0857.53222 [3] Collee, J.G., Miles, R.S. and Wan, B. (1996) Tests for the identification of bacteria. In: Collee, J.G., Fraser, A.G., Marmion, B.P. and Simmons, A., Eds., Mackie and Mac-Cartney Practical Medical Microbiology, 14th Edition, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburg, 131-150. [4] Karabay, O., Kocoglu, E. and Tahtaci, M. (2007) The role of mobile phones in the spread of bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 1, 72-73. [5] Ulger, F., Esen, S., Dilek, A., Yanik, K., Gunaydin, M. and Leblebicioglu, H. (2009) Are we aware how contaminated our mobile phones with nosocomial pathogens? Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 8, 1476-1487. [6] Tambekar, D.H., Gulhane, P.B., Dahikar, S.G. and Dudhane, M.N. (2008) Nosocomial hazards of doctor’s mobile phones in hospitals. Journal of Medical Sciences, 8, 73-76. doi:10.3923/jms.2008.73.76 [7] Chawla, K., Mukhopadhayay, C., Gurung, B., Bhate, P. and Bairy, I. (2009) Bacterial “cell” phones: Do cell phones carry potential pathogens? Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 8, 8. [8] Pandey, A., Asthana, A.K., Tiwari, R., Kumar, L., Das, A. and Madan, M. (2010) Physician accessories: Doctor, what you carry is every patient’s worry? Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 53, 711-713. [9] Tagoe, D.N., Gyande, U.K. and Ansah, E.O. (2011) Bacterial contamination of mobile phones: When your mobile phone could transmit more than just a call. WebmedCentral Microbiology, 2, WMC002294.
[1] Killic, I.H., Ozaslan, M., Karagoz, I.D., Zer, Y. and Davatoglu, V. (2009) The microbial contamination of mobile phones used by healthcare staff. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 12, 882-884. [2] Datta, P., Rani, H., Chander, J. and Gupta V. (2009) Bacterial contamination of mobile phones of health care workers. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 27, 279-281. doi:10.4103/0255-0857.53222 [3] Collee, J.G., Miles, R.S. and Wan, B. (1996) Tests for the identification of bacteria. In: Collee, J.G., Fraser, A.G., Marmion, B.P. and Simmons, A., Eds., Mackie and Mac-Cartney Practical Medical Microbiology, 14th Edition, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburg, 131-150. [4] Karabay, O., Kocoglu, E. and Tahtaci, M. (2007) The role of mobile phones in the spread of bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 1, 72-73. [5] Ulger, F., Esen, S., Dilek, A., Yanik, K., Gunaydin, M. and Leblebicioglu, H. (2009) Are we aware how contaminated our mobile phones with nosocomial pathogens? Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 8, 1476-1487. [6] Tambekar, D.H., Gulhane, P.B., Dahikar, S.G. and Dudhane, M.N. (2008) Nosocomial hazards of doctor’s mobile phones in hospitals. Journal of Medical Sciences, 8, 73-76. doi:10.3923/jms.2008.73.76 [7] Chawla, K., Mukhopadhayay, C., Gurung, B., Bhate, P. and Bairy, I. (2009) Bacterial “cell” phones: Do cell phones carry potential pathogens? Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences, 8, 8. [8] Pandey, A., Asthana, A.K., Tiwari, R., Kumar, L., Das, A. and Madan, M. (2010) Physician accessories: Doctor, what you carry is every patient’s worry? Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 53, 711-713. [9] Tagoe, D.N., Gyande, U.K. and Ansah, E.O. (2011) Bacterial contamination of mobile phones: When your mobile phone could transmit more than just a call. WebmedCentral Microbiology, 2, WMC002294.