Viability of hospital pathogens on mobile phone

Clinical use of mobile phones have increased exponentially. Whilst evidence of contamination is documented, a key factor when determining potential risks of contamination, is establishing the duration the organism remains viable on the device. If pathogens are found to persist for extended duration, healthcare mobile phones may become fomites for cross departmental transmission.

Determine the duration pathogenic bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, two Pseudomonas sp. Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis susceptible and resistant to vancomycin (VSE and VRE) Staphylococcus aureus susceptible and resistant to methicillin (MSSA and MRSA), and a coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNs) can remain viable on a mobile phone under controlled conditions.

Phones were inoculated with 10⁶ - 10⁷ of each bacterium. The duration of viability was measured from the point the inoculum had dried and CFUs retrieved at timed intervals over 28 days.

The mean percentage of bacteria viable at each time point was significantly different (20mins, P = .004, 1 hour P = .014, 6 hours P = .006, 24 hours P = .004, 7 days P = .007, 14 days P = .003, 21 days P = .002- and 28 days P = .004). Gram-positive bacteria remained viable longer than gram-negative bacteria (P = .010). MSSA declined faster than MRSA within the first 6 hours (P = .036).

The extended duration of bacterial viability indicates the ability for pathogens to persist on a device and remain viable long enough to be transmitted to new areas both within the hospital and out to the community. Mobile phone decontamination should occur in combination of hand hygiene.