MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN OPERATION THEATRE OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr Ramandeep Singh Ahluwalia; Dr Vishal Chaudhary; Dr Anish Adya; Dr DK Kalra

Volume : VIII, Issue : IX, September - 2019

MICROBIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF MOBILE PHONES OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN OPERATION THEATRE OF A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Dr Ramandeep Singh Ahluwalia, Dr Vishal Chaudhary, Dr Anish Adya, Dr Dk Kalra

Abstract :

Background: Mobile phone use by the Health Care workers in hospitals is a common practice. They are frequently contaminated with micro–organisms and are rarely disinfected. The objective of this study was to find out the prevalence of contamination of mobile phones in the operation theatre of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: All the HCWs present in the OT on a random day were chosen for collection of swabs from mobile phones for culture. A questionnaire was given to each HCW to fill demographic profile and questions related to mobile phones use and disinfection practices. The samples were cultured, the organisms grown were identified and results analysed. Results: 63 HCWs were part of the study and a total of 67 samples were taken. 29 (43.3%) samples were found to be positive for microbial culture. Most common organisms grown were coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNS), the virulent organisms grown were Acinetobacter, E coli and MRSA. Conclusion: A significant number of mobile phones were found to be contaminated with microbial organisms in the OT of our hospital. Mobile phone disinfection should be part of infection prevention protocols in Operation Theatre.