Mobile phone as potential fomites: microbial analysis in the hospital context

Le résumé fourni par la source

Background: Mobile phones used in hospital environments can act as vectors for the transmission of microorganisms and contribute to the increase in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). This study aimed to analyze bacterial contamination on mobile phones used by healthcare professionals in a teaching hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: Samples were collected using swabs from mobile phones. Bacteria were isolated and identified by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using standardized methods. Demographic data were obtained through a structured questionnaire. Results: Forty professionals participated in the study. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) was identified in 100% of the samples. Twenty-one strains of potentially pathogenic bacteria were isolated, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Leclercia adecarboxylata, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4.8% each); Staphylococcus aureus, Pantoea septica, Pseudomonas putida, and Ochrobactrum anthropi (9.5% each); and Escherichia coli and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (19% each). S. aureus isolates were resistant to ampicillin and penicillin, while Enterobacterales species exhibited only intrinsic resistance. The presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria was observed on 41.9% of female participants’ phones and 66.7% of male participants’ phones. Only 27.5% of participants reported routinely disinfecting their mobile devices. Conclusion: Mobile phone hygiene is essential to prevent HAIs. These devices can harbor various bacterial species, representing a potential source of cross-contamination. Adherence to hand hygiene and regular disinfection of mobile phones are fundamental measures to reduce the spread of pathogens in hospital environments.

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