Shining a light on the pathogenicity of health care providers' mobile phones: Use of a novel ultraviolet-C wave disinfection device.
Am J Infect Control
; 48(11): 1370-1374, 2020 11.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-620103
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Mobile phones are known to carry pathogenic bacteria and viruses on their surfaces, posing a risk to healthcare providers (HCPs) and hospital infection prevention efforts. We utilize an Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) device to provide an effective method for mobile phone disinfection and survey HCPs about infection risk.METHODS:
Environmental swabs were used to culture HCPs' personal mobile phone surfaces. Four cultures were obtained per phone before and after the UV-C device's 30-second disinfecting cycle, at the beginning and end of a 12-hour shift. Surveys were administered to participants pre- and poststudy.RESULTS:
Total bacterial colony forming units were reduced by 90.5% (Pâ¯=â¯.006) after one UV-C disinfection cycle, and by 99.9% (Pâ¯=â¯.004) after 2 cycles. Total pathogenic bacterial colony forming units were decreased by 98.2% (Pâ¯=â¯.038) after one and >99.99% (Pâ¯=â¯.037) after 2 disinfection cycles. All survey respondents were willing to use the UV-C device daily to weekly, finding it convenient and beneficial.DISCUSSION:
This novel UV-C disinfecting device is effective in reducing pathogenic bacteria on mobile phones. HCPs would frequently use a phone disinfecting device to reduce infection risk.CONCLUSIONS:
In light of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, a standardized approach to phone disinfection may be valuable in preventing healthcare-associated infections.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Bacteria
/
Ultraviolet Rays
/
Disinfection
/
Cell Phone
/
Betacoronavirus
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Infect Control
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
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