Cellphones A Modern Stayhouse For Bacterial Pathogens

Cellphones are increasingly used by health care personnels for communication. These can harbour various potential pathogens and become an exogenous source of nosocomial infections. A total of 160 cellphones belonging to doctors and paramedical staff working in various departments at govt. medical college and hospital, Amritsar were screened for bacterial isolates. Sterile swabs moistened with nutrient broth were used to swab the front, back and the sides of the cellphones and were subjected to culture and sensitivity. The same procedure was repeated after decontamination with 70% iso propyl alcohol.Out of total 160 cellphones growth was obtained in 65(40.62%) cellphones. 31(19.37%) from clinical workers and 34(21.25%) from non clinical workers. Coagulase negative staphylococcus was the most commonly isolated organism.The efficacy of decontamination with 70% isopropyl alcohol was found to be 98% as only 5 cellphones showed growth after decontamination.It was found that around 40% of the cellphones of health care workers were contaminated and thus acted as a potential source of nosocomial infections. Simple measures like decontamination with 70% isopropyl alcohol was found to be 98% effective.