Abstract
Mobile phones (MPs) are commonly used both in the personal and professional life. We assessed microbiological contamination of MPs from 108 students in healthcare professions (HPs), in relation to their demographic characteristics and MPs handling habits, collected by means of a questionnaire. Cultural and biochemical tests were performed, and statistical analyses were carried out. Staphylococci were present in 85% of MPs, Enterococci in 37%, Coliforms in 6.5%; E. coli was never detected. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most frequently isolated staphylococcal species (72% of MPs), followed by S. capitis (14%), S. saprophyticus, S. warneri, S. xylosus (6%), and by S. aureus (4%). Heterotrophic Plate Counts (HPC) at 37 °C, ranged from 0 to 1.2 × 104 CFU/dm2 (mean = 362 CFU/dm2). In univariate analysis, the male gender only was significantly associated with higher HPCs and enterococcal contamination. Multiple linear regression models explained only 17% and 16% of the HPC 37 °C and staphylococcal load variability, respectively. Developing specific guidelines for a hygienic use of MPs in clinical settings, for preventing cross-infection risks, is advisable, as well as introducing specific training programs to HP students. MPs decontamination procedures could also be implemented in the community.
Highlights
Mobile phones (MPs), and smartphones in particular, are one of the most common items people carry around with them, in both their professional and personal lives [1,2].According to United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN), approximately 30% of the world’s population had a smartphone at the end of 2014 [3]
Our findings about phone usage by students were very similar to those of a survey conducted in North America at the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, which aimed to find out the habits of nurses on MPs use in different hospital settings; the only relevant exception was the use of disinfectants for MPs cleaning, which we found to be less frequent (39% vs. 72%) [65]
This experience gave us the opportunity to inform the students about the microbiological risks their MPs can pose, taking a first step towards a more systematic educational intervention on the potential risks related to these devices, in healthcare degree courses
Summary
Mobile phones (MPs), and smartphones in particular, are one of the most common items people carry around with them, in both their professional and personal lives [1,2].According to United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN), approximately 30% of the world’s population had a smartphone at the end of 2014 [3]. Smartphones provide better communication, and sharing of information among healthcare workers (HCWs) and between HCWs and patients; they can lead to improved quality of healthcare, especially in terms of faster communication and promoting a prompt clinical diagnosis [5,6,7,8]. Due to their many benefits, any associated risk with their use is minimized or not considered [7]
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