Effectiveness of Disinfection with 70% Isopropyl Alcohol to Reduce Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones Carried by Medical Personnel in Baghdad Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Mobile phones, despite their importance in daily life, can disseminate pathogens due to their frequent contact with hands. The purpose of the present study is to determine the prevalence of bacterial contamination on the mobile phones of healthcare personnel at the Baghdad Teaching Hospital, to identify the contaminating microorganisms, and to determine the preventive efficacy of 70% isopropyl alcohol. Sixty mobile phones from 40 physicians and 20 nurses were analyzed for microbial contamination. After collecting samples from each phone, they were disinfected with 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes and samples were recollected. Twenty four hours of aerobic and anaerobic incubation of agar plates at 37 °C. The results indicated that 34 (56.7%) out of 60 samples were contaminated with bacteria. Approximately 57.5% of the mobile phones used by physicians and 45% of those used by nurses contained microorganisms. Before disinfection, the most common bacteria found in mobile phones were coagulase-negative staphylococci, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic (3.33%) and non-hemolytic (3.33%) Streptococci. While, E. coli and fungi contaminates were also found on mobile phone surfaces in equal percentage (6.67%). Following disinfection with 70% isopropyl alcohol, the number of bacteria was reduced to nil in 83.3% of the colonized mobile phones. This investigation demonstrated that commercially available, affordable and device safe wipes containing 70% isopropyl alcohol can significantly reduce mobile phone contamination. As a result, it is crucial for medical professionals to sterilize their mobile phones on a regular basis, as this can limit the dissemination of pathogens to patients and reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infections.