Bacterial contamination of mobile phones of healthcare workers at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.

BACKGROUND: Mobile telephones (henceforth 'phones') have become an essential part of everyday life in both healthcare and community settings. However, the widespread use of mobile phones in healthcare facilities is of concern because they can act as vehicles for transmitting pathogenic bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the bacterial contamination of mobile phones of healthcare workers (HCWs) at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study, from May to July 2019, involved 117 HCWs. A self-administered questionnaire was used to gather sociodemographic and phone usage data. The mobile phones of HCWs were swabbed for culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of mobile phone contamination was 79%. The predominant isolates were coagulase-negative staphylococci (50%), Staphylococcus aureus (24.5%) and Bacillus spp. (14.3%). Other isolates were Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella sp. and Proteus sp. Most isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, gentamicin and cotrimoxazole, while all Gram-positive organisms were resistant to penicillin. Meticillin resistance was detected in 25% and 48% of S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolates, respectively. No significant association was found between mobile phone contamination and age group, gender, profession, mobile phone disinfection or work area. CONCLUSION: Mobile phones of HCWs carry potentially pathogenic bacteria and can be a source of healthcare-associated infections in healthcare settings. Hence, regulations regarding the use of mobile phones need to be developed, especially in critical areas, to reduce the dissemination of pathogenic bacteria from hands to phones and, potentially, to patients.

Measuring the impact of a behaviour change intervention for commercial sex workers and their potential clients in Malawi.

A peer-education HIV/AIDS prevention programme for bar-based sex workers and their potential clients (long-distance truck drivers) in Malawi was evaluated for impact. A mixed method approach was used, the tools being structured questionnaires and focus group discussions. The results showed that in the active districts, the presence of sex worker peer educators led to a increase in condom use with paying partners (90.3 compared to 66.7 and 76.3% in the two other groups--non-active and average) and increased condom distribution. Condom use with regular non-paying partners of sex workers had, however, not increased since the baseline data. The truck driver peer educators were found to be generally inactive but companies where training had occurred were more likely to encourage and distribute condoms. The qualitative data gave a more in-depth view of several areas for concern: the reasons for the non-use of condoms with non-paying partners; acceptance of educators by their peers; and the sex workers' and truck drivers' criteria for condom use based neither on knowledge nor on their own risk awareness. These issues need to be explored further.

PIP: This paper evaluates the impact of a HIV/AIDS prevention education program for bar-based sex workers and their potential clients (truck drivers) in Malawi. The evaluation methodology using mixed-method approach was considered to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative data. Results showed that in active districts increase in condom use with paying partners (90.3%) was high by comparison with nonactive districts due to the presence of peer educators. Data also showed that truck driver peer educators were inactive and that companies where training had occurred were more likely to encourage the use of condoms and to distribute them. Condom use with regular nonpaying partners of sex workers had, however, not increased. Consequently, there have since been several studies on the reliability and validity of self-reported sexual behavior. The discrepancy between knowledge, risk awareness, and actual behavior still requires further investigation.

A KAPB study to establish baseline data in targeted groups of selected districts of Malawi; for future HIV prevention campaigns: survey report [Draft]

This study finds that progress has been noted as to the degree in which AIDS is seen as a serious health problem; as to the awareness of the danger of sex with multiple partners and as to the possibility of avoiding AIDS. Furthermore; the use of condoms as a possible protection seems to be better accepted in the public than it was a year ago. The main trends of the findings show: a general awareness of HIV/AIDS and risk awareness; a preference for specific health educatioon methods such as radio; health talks and discussion among friends and partners; a general acceptance of condoms as protective barriers and a need for distribution and adjustment of guidelines for condom use