Investigation of Bacterial Contamination on Cell Phones of Healthcare Workers

Abstract

Objectives: Mobile phones are a necessity of our daily life and have an important place in the provision of health services. Mobile phones, which are widely used in hospitals by healthcare professionals, pose a risk for nosocomial infections, which are associated with high morbidity, mortality and increased hospitalization costs. In this study, it was aimed to examine the bacterial contamination on mobile phones of healthcare workers and to evaluate its relationship with mobile phone usage habits. Methods: This study was carried out with 89 healthcare professionals working in different units of the hospital. A questionnaire questioning the phone usage habits of health workers was applied, and then microbiological analysis was carried out by taking swab samples from the cell phone surface of these people for culture purposes. Results: The mean age of those included in the study was 35.8 ± 7.9 years. Reproduction was detected on mobile phones of 86 (96.6%) of those included in the study. Microorganism growth was observed in 71 (82.6%) of those who reproduced, which is considered as a member of the skin flora, and potential pathogenic microorganism growth was observed in the phones of the remaining 15 (17.4%). Methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus was found to be the most reproducing potential pathogen, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii. In the study, when those who wash their hands 10 or more times a day and those who wash their hands less than 10, those who do and do not clean their phones, and those who leave and do not leave their mobile phones in the working environment, there was a significant difference between the groups in terms of pathogen reproduction status on their mobile phones (p<0.001, p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Cell phones are a reservoir for microorganisms that can cause nosocomial infections. Mobile phone usage habits of healthcare professionals in patient service delivery should be reviewed and mobile phone usage guides should be developed in hospitals so that necessary precautions can be taken.

Keywords

• Mobile phones
• Bacterial contamination
• Hand hygiene

Sağlık Çalışanlarının Cep Telefonlarındaki Bakteriyel Kontaminasyonun Araştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Cep telefonları günlük yaşantımızın bir ihtiyacı olup, sağlık hizmeti sunumunda da önemli bir yere sahiptir. Sağlık çalışanları tarafından hastanede yaygın kullanılan cep telefonları, yüksek morbidite, mortalite ve artan hastaneye yatış maliyetleri ile ilişkilendirilen nozokomiyal enfeksiyonlar için risk oluşturmaktadır. Bu çalışmada sağlık çalışanlarının cep telefonlarındaki bakteriyel kontaminasyonun incelenmesi ve cep telefonu kullanım alışkanlıklarıyla olan ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Yöntem: Bu çalışma hastanenin farklı birimlerinde görevli 89 sağlık çalışanı ile gerçekleştirilmiştir. Sağlık çalışanlarına telefon kullanım alışkanlıklarını sorgulayan anket uygulanmış, sonrasında bu kişilerin cep telefonu yüzeyinden kültür amacıyla sürüntü örneği alınarak mikrobiyolojik analiz gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgular: Çalışmaya dahil edilenlerin yaş ortalaması 35.8 ± 7.9 yıl olarak bulunmuştur. Çalışmaya alınanların 86’sının (%96.6) cep telefonunda üreme saptanmıştır. Üreme olanların 71’inde (%82.6) deri flora üyesi olarak kabul edilen mikroorganizma üremesi olduğu gözlenmiş, kalan 15 (%17.4) kişinin telefonunda ise potansiyel patojen mikroorganizma üremesi olmuştur. Potansiyel patojen mikroorganizma olarak en fazla üreyen etkenin Metisiline duyarlı Staphylococcus aureus olduğu görülmüş, onu Acinetobacter baumannii takip etmiştir. Çalışmada günde 10 ve üstünde el yıkayanlar ile 10’un altında el yıkayanlar, telefon temizliği yapanlar ve yapmayanlar ve çalışma ortamına cep telefonunu bırakanlar ve bırakmayanlar karşılaştırıldığında, cep telefonunda patojen üreme durumu açısından gruplar arasında anlamlı farklılık izlenmiştir (sırasıyla p<0.001, p=0.001 ve p<0.001). Sonuç: Cep telefonları nozokomiyal enfeksiyonlara sebep olabilecek mikroorganizmalar için bir rezervuar konumundadır. Sağlık çalışanlarının hasta hizmeti sunumunda cep telefonu kullanım alışkanlıkları gözden geçirilmeli ve gerekli tedbirlerin alınabilmesi için hastanelerde cep telefonu kullanım rehberleri geliştirilmelidir.

Keywords

• Cep telefonları
• Bakteriyel kontaminasyon
• El hijyeni

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