Highlights
- •E. Coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus exhibited a (log1) decline within the first hour.
- •Bacteria remain viable on mobile phones for at least 6 hours.
- •Many bacteria associated with HAI were detected at 28 days in low numbers.
- •The most successful pathogenic bacteria to remain viable at the 28 day was B. cereus.
- •A rapid viability decline was seen in MSSA within the first 6 hours compared to MRSA.
Introduction
Clinical use of mobile phones have increased exponentially. Whilst evidence of contamination
is documented, a key factor when determining potential risks of contamination, is
establishing the duration the organism remains viable on the device. If pathogens
are found to persist for extended duration, healthcare mobile phones may become fomites
for cross departmental transmission.
Aim
Determine the duration pathogenic bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, two Pseudomonas sp. Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis susceptible and resistant to vancomycin (VSE and VRE) Staphylococcus aureus susceptible and resistant to methicillin (MSSA and MRSA), and a coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNs) can remain viable on a mobile phone
under controlled conditions.
Method
Phones were inoculated with 106 – 107 of each bacterium. The duration of viability was measured from the point the inoculum
had dried and CFUs retrieved at timed intervals over 28 days.
Results
The mean percentage of bacteria viable at each time point was significantly different
(20mins, P = .004, 1 hour P = .014, 6 hours P = .006, 24 hours P = .004, 7 days P = .007, 14 days P = .003, 21 days P = .002- and 28 days P = .004). Gram-positive bacteria remained viable longer than gram-negative bacteria
(P = .010). MSSA declined faster than MRSA within the first 6 hours (P = .036).
Conclusions
The extended duration of bacterial viability indicates the ability for pathogens to
persist on a device and remain viable long enough to be transmitted to new areas both
within the hospital and out to the community. Mobile phone decontamination should
occur in combination of hand hygiene.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 15, 2021
Footnotes
Funding: By the KESS2 Scholarship (European social development funds).
Conflict of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
