tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Infect Control
. 2020 Jun 5;S0196-6553(20)30358-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.040. Online ahead of print.
Shining a Light on the Pathogenicity of Health Care Providers' Mobile Phones: Use of a Novel Ultraviolet-C Wave Disinfection Device
Sanchi Malhotra[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jordan Wlodarczyk[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Christopher Kuo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Catherine Ngo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marisa Glucoft[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ivan Sumulong[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Michael A Smit[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jeffrey M Bender[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
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 post-study.
Results: Total bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) were reduced by 90.5% (p=0.006) after one UV-C disinfection cycle, and by 99.9% (p=0.004) after two cycles. Total pathogenic bacterial CFUs were decreased by 98.2% (p=0.038) after one and >99.99% (p=0.037) after two 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: UV-C device; disinfection; healthcare associated infections; infection control; mobile
. 2020 Jun 5;S0196-6553(20)30358-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.040. Online ahead of print.
Shining a Light on the Pathogenicity of Health Care Providers' Mobile Phones: Use of a Novel Ultraviolet-C Wave Disinfection Device
Sanchi Malhotra[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jordan Wlodarczyk[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Christopher Kuo[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Catherine Ngo[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marisa Glucoft[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ivan Sumulong[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Michael A Smit[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Jeffrey M Bender[SUP] 5 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32512083
- PMCID: PMC7274098
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2020.05.040
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 post-study.
Results: Total bacterial colony forming units (CFUs) were reduced by 90.5% (p=0.006) after one UV-C disinfection cycle, and by 99.9% (p=0.004) after two cycles. Total pathogenic bacterial CFUs were decreased by 98.2% (p=0.038) after one and >99.99% (p=0.037) after two 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: UV-C device; disinfection; healthcare associated infections; infection control; mobile