A Source for Bacterial Cross-Contamination within Hospitals

How Healthcare Workers’ Cell Phones Contribute to the Cross-Contamination of Germs & Bacteria

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There’s a saying that if you are sick, the last place you should visit is a hospital. Contrary to belief, hospitals are actually a dirty place and so are cell phones. As it turns out, smartphones used in clinical settings harbor potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Mobile devices have been described by some infection prevention specialists and epidemiologists as a “Trojan Horse” for bacterial cross-contamination (Brady, Verran, Damani, & Gibb, 2009).

This Trojan Horse comes from the quiet, unassuming, yet powerfully pervasive role that mobile devices play in modern health care. Nearly every healthcare worker (HCW) has a mobile device in their pocket, and many of them are using their mobile devices during work. Yet no one is sanitizing their phones after patient interactions as if they were a stethoscope or blood pressure cuff.

Clinical use of mobile phones and tablets have increased exponentially as they increase the speed of communication and contact within healthcare institutions, making healthcare information and treatment much more efficient. However, studies show they harbor micro-organisms which can easily cross-contaminate.

Disposable Infection Control Barriers Sleeves and Covers Are Designed To Keep Surfaces & Environments Sanitary

Statistics show that Americans, on average, touch their cellphone 2,617 times daily and spend 5.4 hours on their phones with 75% carrying their phones into the bathroom.  In fact, the average touch phone has 25,000 germs per square inch making it one of the most germ-infested items you touch every day.

In the hospital, doctors and medical staff regularly use cell phones and tablets for a variety of tasks, including calculating medication dosages, reviewing laboratory imaging results and accessing patient information. Data shows the a healthcare workers mobile device can be  contaminated with bacteria at rates between 41.2 - 97.8% (Tekerekoǧlu et al., 2011; Ustun & Cihangiroglu, 2012) making these portable electronic devices a reservoir for potential pathogens and a catayist for transmission or cross-contamination

Portable Smart Devices Are An Over-Looked Hazard

Despite improvements in prevention strategies and therapies, hospital acquired infections (HAIs) remain a leading problem within health systems and are steadily increasing around the world. Studies show that there is a definite colonization of bacteria capable of transferring disease-producing microbes (which are viable for prolonged periods of time) making it easy for staff, patients and visitors to spread infection.  Despite the high possibility of being contaminated, mobile phones and personal tablets are rarely sanitized yet are often touched during or after examination of patients,  lavatory breaks, when handling specimens or touching commonly shared devices.

Cross-Contamination

During a phone call, the mobile phone comes into close contact with contaminated human body areas with hands to hands, and hands to other areas like mouth, nose and ears which may result in colonization of potential pathogens present on the human skin on the mobile phones. The worker then proceeds to touch a surface or item leading to cross-contamination.  The risk of cross-transmission and infection from mobile devices is not just restricted to HCWs, but  also includes anyone who visits the facility with a cell phone such as a visitor, an admitted patient, a delivery person or service technician.

Due to the benefits of mobile phones and tablets, their hazard to human health is often overlooked. Without regulations around the use of mobile telephones in hospital settings, the potential risks of using cellular phones can unknowingly lead to the transfer of micro-organisms possibly leading to infections.

Easy, Effective & Affordable Infection Control

The need to consider infection-control policies to mitigate the potential risks associated with the increased use of smartphones in clinical settings is imperative. Now you can easily prevent the spread of germs with disposable infection control covers designed for use with cellular smart phones.

Reduce the issue of bacterial cross-contamination among the healthcare community, visitors and patients alike that help drive changes in mobile device hygiene practices without the use of chemicals or disinfectants that could damage your device. For pennies, you can now cover and protect your valuable mobile device with our convenient, easy-to-use disposable, touch-sensitive transparent cell phone covers.

These specially constructed,  high clarity sleeve covers do not impede typing or swipe functions, can be used with a stylus and lastly, do not distort view.  Affordable, easy and quick to use, disposable protectors simply slide over the portable smart device to create a hygienic barrier.

They are available in resealable (adhesive strip) and reclosable (zip seal) styles in the following sizes:

•     3-in x 5-in
•     4-in x 6-in
•     4¾-in x 6¾-in
•     4-in x 7-in

Germs are everywhere – at home, in school, in the office, at restaurants and everywhere you travel. Even medical facilities are not immune to illness-causing microorganisms. You can minimize the spread of infections that can disrupt business and homes fast, easy and affordably. All you need to do now is tap the link and ....

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