Bacterial resistance in cell phone cultures of medical students

Cell phones are one of the most important and indispensable accessories for professional and social life. Cell phones used by healthcare workers are highly contaminated by microorganisms. The objective of the study was to ascertain the presence of bacterial resistance type Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase [ESBL] and its related factors in cultures isolated from cell phones of medical students. A quantitative, observational, analytical and transversal study was carried out in students of the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Hermilio Valdizán in Huánuco, Peru. The relationship was sought between the frequency of attendance at hospital practices, cell phone disinfection and hand washing after contact with patients with the presence of ESBL-type bacterial resistance. Of the total sample, 95% of students presented positive culture to Gram-negative bacteria, 30% carried out the disinfection of their cell phone and only 5% of the students performed hand-washing in an appropriate manner. In the bivariate analysis, a statistical association was found between cell phone disinfection and the presence of ESBL-type bacterial resistance [p <0.05]. Cell phone disinfection is related to the reduction of ESBL-type resistance, highlighting the need for disinfection of cell phones after performing hospital practices.