Cellular telephone as reservoir of bacterial contamination: Myth or fact

Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research

Volumn 8, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 50-53

  Walia, Satinder S ^a   Manchanda, Adesh ^a   Narang, Ramandeep S ^a   Anup, N ^b   Singh, Balwinder ^a   Kahlon, Sukhdeep S ^a  

^a Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Dental Sciences and Research   (India)

^b JAIPUR DENTAL COLLEGE   (India)

Author keywords

Dental Health Care Personnel (DHCP); Health Care Worker (HCW); Hospital acquired infection

Indexed keywords

ANTIBIOTIC SENSITIVITY; ARTICLE; BACTERIAL TRANSMISSION; BACTERIUM CONTAMINATION; COLONY FORMING UNIT; CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY; DISK DIFFUSION; GRAM POSITIVE BACTERIUM; HAND WASHING; HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT; HOSPITAL INFECTION; HUMAN; INFECTION CONTROL; INFECTION RISK; INSTRUMENT STERILIZATION; MOBILE PHONE; MOUTH HYGIENE; STAFF TRAINING;

EID: 84896722545     PISSN: 2249782X     EISSN: 0973709X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.7860/JCDR/2014/6398.3948     Document Type: Article

References (26)

1. Pittet D, Allegranzi B, Storr J, Nejad SB, Dziekan G, Leotsakos A, Donaldson L. Infection control as a major World Health Organization priority for developing countries. J Hosp Infect. 2008; 68: 285-92.
2. Tekerekoglu MS, Durmaz R, Ay S, Cicek A, Kutlu O. Epidemiological and clinical features of a sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) in pediatric intensive care unit. Am J Infect Control. 2004; 32: 362-4.
3. Imhoff M. Critical care and trauma. Anesth Analg. 2006; 102: 533-4.
4. Redelmeier DA, Tibshirani RJ. Association between cellular-telephone calls and motor vehicle collisions. N Eng J Med. 1997; 336: 453-58.
5. Inskip PD, Tarone RE, Hatch EE, Wilcosky TC, Shapiro WR, Selker RG, Fine HA, Black PM, Loeffler JS, Linet MS. Cellular-telephone use and brain tumors. N Engl J Med. 2001; 344: 79-86.
6. International Telecommunications Union. ITU World Telecommunication Indicators (WTI) Database. 9th ed. 2005.
7. Press Release Newswire; "The Average Mobile Phone Contains More Bacteria than A Toilet Seat" London, UK (PR WEB), January 18, 2007.
8. Wilker MA, Cockerill FR, Craig WA. Performance stan¬dards for anti-microbial susceptibility testing: clinical and laboratory standards institute. 15th informal supplement. M 100-SI5. 5 (1). Wayne, PA: National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 2005.
9. Bhat SS, Hegde S, Salian S. Potential of mobile phones to serve as a reservoir in spread of nosocomial pathogens. Online J Heal All Sci. 2011; 10 (2): 1-3.
10. Singh S, Acharya S, Bhat M, Rao SK, Pentapati KC. Mobile phone hygiene: potential risks posed by use in the clinics of an Indian dental school. J Dent Edu. 2010; 74 (10): 1153-58.
11. Ulger F, Esen S, Dilek A, Yanik K, Gunaydin M, Leblebicioglu H. Are we aware how contaminated our mobile phones with nosocomial pathogens? Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2009; 8: 7.
12. Brady RRW, Wasson A, Stirling I, McAllister C, Damani NN. Is your phone bugged? The incidence of bacteria known to cause nosocomial infection on healthcare workers' mobile phones. J Hosp Infect. 2006; 62: 123-125.
13. Goldblatt JG, Krief I, Klonsky T, Haller D, Milloul V, Sixsmith DM, Srugo I, Potasman I. Use of cellular telephones and transmission of pathogens by medical staff in New York and Israel. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007; 28: 500-3.
14. Jayalakshmi J, Appalaraju B, Usha S. Cellphones as reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens. J Assoc Phys India. 2008; 56: 388-89.
15. Borer A, Gilad J, Smolyakov R. Cell phones and Acinetobacter transmission. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005; 11: 1160-1.
16. Ducel G, Fabry J, Nicolle L, eds. Prevention of hospital-acquired infections: a practical guide, 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization. 2002.
17. Jeske HC, Tiefenthaler W, Hohlrieder M, Hinterberger G, Benzer A. Bacterial contamination of anaesthetists' hands by personal mobile phone and fixed phone use in the operating theatre. Anaesthesia. 2007; 62: 904-06.
18. Osorio R, Toledano M, Liebana J, Rosales JI, Lozano JA. Environmental microbial contamination: pilot study in a dental surgery. Int Dent J. 1995; 45: 352-7.
19. Neff JH, Rosenthal SL. A possible means of inadvertent transmission of infection to dental patients. J Dent Res. 1957; 36: 932-4.
20. Murray JP, Slack GL. Some sources of bacterial contami¬nation in everyday dental practice. Br Dent J. 1957; 134: 172-4.
21. Tekerekoglu MS, Duman Y, Serindag A, Cuglan SS, Kaysadu H, Tunc E, Yakupogullari Y. Do mobile phones of patients, companions and visitors carry multidrug-resistant hospital pathogens? Am J Infect Control. 2011; 39: 379-81.
22. Brady RRW, Verran J, Damani NN, Gibb AP. Review of the mobile communication devices reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens. J Hosp Infect. 2009; 71: 295-300.
23. Beer D, Vandermeer B, Brosnikoff C, Shokoples S, Rennie R, Forgie S. Bacterial contamination of health care workers' pagers and the efficacy of various disinfecting agents. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2006; 25: 1074-5.
24. Kanjirath PP, Coplen AE, Chapman JC, Peters MC, Inglehart MR. Effectiveness of gloves and infection control in dentistry: student and provider perspectives. J Dent Educ. 2009; 73 (5): 571-80.
25. Canadian Dental Association. Recommendations for infec¬tion control procedures. J Can Dent Assoc. 1988; 54: 383-4.
26. Larsen EL. APIC guideline for hand-washing and hand antisepsis in health care settings. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23: 251-69.