Review of mobile communication devices as potential reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens

Summary Innovation in mobile communication technology has provided novel approaches to the delivery of healthcare and improvements in the speed and quality of routine medical communication. Bacterial contamination of mobile communication devices (MCDs) could be an important issue affecting the imple...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2009-04, Vol.71 (4), p.295-300
Main Authors: Brady, R.R.W, Verran, J, Damani, N.N, Gibb, A.P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibacterial agents
Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Cellular phone
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Cross Infection - transmission
Equipment and Supplies - microbiology
General aspects
Hospital-acquired infection
Human bacterial diseases
Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models
Humans
Infection Control - methods
Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Screening
Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections
Telecommunications
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Summary Innovation in mobile communication technology has provided novel approaches to the delivery of healthcare and improvements in the speed and quality of routine medical communication. Bacterial contamination of mobile communication devices (MCDs) could be an important issue affecting the implementation of effective infection control measures and might have an impact on efforts to reduce cross-contamination. This review examines recent studies reporting bacterial contamination of MCDs, most demonstrating that 9–25% of MCDs are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. We examine previously investigated risk factors for MCD contamination in addition to work on surface decontamination of the device. Recommendations to reduce contamination risks include staff education, strict hand hygiene measures, guidelines on device cleaning and consideration of the restrictions regarding use of mobile phone technology in certain high risk areas, for example, operating theatres, intensive care units and burns units. Further work is required to evaluate the benefit of such interventions on MCD contamination and to determine whether a link exists between contamination and subsequent patient infection.
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1016/j.jhin.2008.12.009