Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hospital acquired infections continue to be a major issue for international health systems, despite advancements in contemporary detection and treatment. Potential infections can be found on healthcare personnel' cell phones. Mobile phones are seldom clean and are frequently handled before or after patient examinations and specimen processing without sufficient hand washing, despite the substantial risk of contamination. The primary goal of this study was to separate, characterise, and determine the antibiotic susceptibility of various microorganisms found on the mobile phones of both healthcare and non-healthcare personnel. Materials and Methods: Aseptic samples were obtained by rolling mobile phones over agar plates. These plates were then incubated in aerobic conditions. Following incubation, the plates were assessed for bacterial growth. The bacteria were identified and subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing using standard microbiological methods. Results: A total of 178 samples were analysed in this study, 118 of which came from healthcare workers (HCWs) and 60 from non-HCWs (non-HCWs). Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (15.9%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (26.5%) were the most frequently isolated organisms from HCWs' mobile phones. Thirty samples (50.00%) of the sixty samples obtained from the mobile phones of non-HCWs demonstrated the growth of seven different kinds of bacteria. Conclusion: The findings of our study indicate that bacteria are present on the mobile phones of healthcare workers (HCWs), suggesting a potential for the transmission of disease-causing microorganisms. These devices, which are not only used for communication but also serve as potential reservoirs for pathogens, can contribute to the spread of nosocomial infections. To minimize the risk of such infections, it is crucial to enforce rigorous hand hygiene practices and establish regulations regarding the use of mobile phones in hospital environments. By implementing these measures, we can help reduce the incidence of healthcare- associated infections.