Prevalence and Inherent factors in the bacterial contamination of the mobile phones of health workers: Literature review

Document Type : Systematic review or meta-analysis

Authors

1 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Technical Health Occupations, street Faidouzi Mohamed, Casablanca, Morocco

2 Health Sciences, Hassan First University, Casablanca road, B.P 555 Settat, Morocco

3 Université Sultan Moulay Slimane, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, B.P 523 Béni Mellal, Morocco

4 ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Technical Health Occupations, 74 Street Hassan II, Rabat 10000, Morocco

Abstract

Background:  Bacterial contamination of mobile devices could be a major problem for global health systems. The objective of the present study is to describe the factors inherent in the process of bacterial contamination of mobile phones of healthcare workers. Our research is a literature review based on the common results of studies carried out between 2009 and 2019. Its global vision resulting from analyzes of isolation of bacteria according to standard microbiological methods. The bibliographic analysis showed a contamination rate, of mobile phones of healthcare workers, varies between 36% up to 100%. The most common isolate was coagulase negative staphylococcus (CNS) (29%), followed by staphylococcus aureus (SA) (25%), Bacillus (14%), methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (12%), streptococcus (10%) and others (10%). Cell phones are rarely cleaned and are always in contact with the hands and different parts of the face as well as work benches, which facilitates the transmission of infections in and out of the hospital. Therefore, it is difficult to prevent the use of mobile phones but with the danger that involves their uses, it is necessary to inform health personnel about the means of prevention and to make them aware of this danger and to explain the interest in modifying their behavior towards these devices.

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