Volume : IX, Issue : XII, December - 2019

Mobile phones : The pathogens which we are carrying in our pockets ?

Dr. Aakanksha Sharma, Dr Smita Bawankar

Abstract :

Introduction : Nosocomial infections are on the rise worldwide and are a major but often neglected health problem. Mobile phones being used by healthcare providers are emerging as fomites capable of transmitting infections. Studies have shown presence of potentially pathogenic bacterial and fungal contamination of cell phones. Methodology : This study was carried out with the aim of analysing the microbial contamination of mobile phones carried by health professionals. 250 mobiles phones were sampled with the swabs and analysed for the presence of microbial growth according to conventional microbiological techniques. Results : Microbial contamination was found to be present in 71.2% of the mobile phones with gram positive cocci forming the most commonly isolated group of organisms. Pathogenic microbes comprised of 20% of the isolates. Conclusion : The isolation of MRSA and other pathogenic microbes shows that mobile phones can act as possible fomites in the spread of noscomial infection. Thus, compliance with strict hand hygiene practices and disinfection policies is strictly recommended.

Keywords :

Article: Download PDF    DOI : 10.36106/ijar  

Cite This Article:

MOBILE PHONES : THE PATHOGENS WHICH WE ARE CARRYING IN OUR POCKETS ?, Dr. Aakanksha Sharma, Dr Smita Bawankar INDIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH : Volume-9 | Issue-12 | December-2019

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