Impact of an intervention on the surface of cellular telephones in a hospital in Salta

Abstract

Introduction: Cell phones, especially those used by healthcare personnel, have high levels of bacterial contamination, including multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens, posing a significant risk of disease transmission in hospital and community settings. Studies reveal that these often uncleaned and widely used devices can be a major source of cross-infection. Methods: In this observational, quasi-experimental epidemiological study, we analyzed bacterial contamination on cell phones of healthcare personnel (N=80) in three stages: pre-intervention, intervention and post-intervention. An educational strategy, monitoring of cleanliness, hand hygiene and use of glass bottles was implemented, and the results of the swabs before and after the intervention, carried out between March and April 2022, were compared. Results: The study analyzed the presence of germs in cell phones of health personnel in two phases, obtaining a total of 240 samples. A high prevalence of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in the screens and cases, and cleaning and disinfection strategies were implemented that achieved an improvement of more than 90% in the reduction of germs, demonstrating that cell phones can be controllable sources of infection with appropriate measures. Conclusion: The intervention was successful, highlighting the importance of improving hygiene, cleanliness and safety culture in the use of cell phones by healthcare personnel.