Microbial contamination of mobile phones in a teritary care hospital
The use of electronic gadgets like mobile phones have become a part of life, They are being used in almost all places irrespective of hospital halls, laboratories, outpatient department, operation theatres, and various areas in the hospital. These mobile phones could probably act as fomites and may facilitate transfer of microbes from one patient to another in hospital settings. They are seldom cleaned and are often touched during or after examination of patients and handling of specimens without proper hand washing. These mobile phones are now described as "technological petri dishes" where in they might play a role in hospital acquired infections as they spread through the hands of health care personnel. The problem with these gadgets are when compared to stationary fomites they facilitate inter ward (and possibly inter facility) transmission and pathogens on them are very difficult to eliminate by surface cleaners and other disinfectants used routinely in hospitals. The use of mobile phones should be weighed against the risk of contamination and transmission of infections in hospitals and other health associated units. It is of utmost importance that the role of electronic gadgets like mobile phones in spreading infections are identified ABSTRACT