Mobile Phones of Healthcare Workers are Possible Source of Nosocomial Infections: Evidence from Asante-Mampong Municipal Government Hospital, Ghana

Abstract

Background: The users of mobile phones often contaminate them with several microflorae including viruses, fungi, and bacteria via unhygienic conditions and habits making phones a breeding ground and a tool for the transmission of infections. This study examined microbial contamination of mobile phones of health care workers (HCWs) and the risk of nosocomial infections at the Mampong Municipal Government Hospital (MMGH), Ghana. Methods: We employed a cross-sectional study design to characterize bacterial microflora on mobile phones of HCWs at the MMGH. A random sample of thirty-five [1] mobile phones of HCWs was swabbed for microbiological analysis from the Dental, Children, Male, Theatre and Laboratory departments. A 0.1 ml sterile buffered peptone water was used to make a uniform suspension of each sample and streaked on blood agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37℃ for 48 hours. Bacteria were isolated and identified using suitable laboratory and biochemical methods. Analysis of data was done using SPSS-IBM version 16. Results: All cell phones were contaminated with one or more species of bacteria. Cell phones from Male, Dental and Laboratory departments had 85.7%, 71.4% and 57.1% prevalence of bacterial contamination respectively while Children’s and Theatre departments each recorded 28.6%. Bacterial contaminants identified were Staphylococcus epidermidis (G+) (37%), Staphylococcus aureus (G+) (26%), E. coli (G-) (20%), Bacillus spp. (G+) (11%) and Klebsiella spp. (G-) (6%.).  Apart from the Children’s Ward, E. coli was isolated at all study sites and the most prevalent (42.9%) at the Dental Unit. Klebsiella spp (G-) (28.6%) was isolated only at the Children’s ward. Conclusion: Mobile phones of HCWs harboured possible pathogens that could cause nosocomial infections among patients. Therefore, strict handwashing practices should be adhered to by HCWs before and after phone use before contact with the patient to reduce the risk of nosocomial infections. This has become even more relevant in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.