Authors: Kapopo Mwewa Christelle, Mbutshu Lukuke Hendrick, Mundongo Tshamba Henri, Malonga Kaj Françoise
Background and Objectives: Mobile phones are used throughout; However, in hospitals they can be carriers of pathogens that can cause nosocomial infections. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of mobile phones by maternity staff of public hospitals in Lubumbashi and determine the bacterial contamination of mobile phones.
Methods: The study was descriptive cross conducted during the period July to December 2016. The sampling was done by volunteer staff in maternity wards of public hospitals in Lubumbashi. Were excluded from the study staff did not have a maternity-care activity. A form was filled by bringing together all the data regarding the type of mobile phone caregivers (with ordinary buttons, digital and / or digital with pouch) and the use of mobile phones during work time. The collection of samples was performed by swabbing on phones by using ISO / DIS 14698-1. Sample analysis was performed in the laboratory of the University Clinics of Lubumbashi and statistical analyzes were performed using Epi Info 7.1.
Results: The results showed that 100% (54) of our respondents had a mobile phone and used it in the presence of patients. The majority of staff (40/54 or 74.1%) stopped caring to answer the phone and of these, 39 (97.6%) did not apply hand hygiene systematically before resuming treatment. 51 of the 54 phones collected were infected (94.4%). Most organisms isolated were Escherichia coli (17.6%), Enterococcus faecalis (15.6%) and Citrobacter freundi (11.7%). The presence of bacteria on the cell phone was significantly associated with the phone hygiene (p = 0.005) and personal care who stopped to answer the phone (p = 0.001). The association between the type of
phone, and the presence of germs was not statistically significant (p = 0,).
Conclusion: Mobile phones could play a role in the transmission of nosocomial infections. It is necessary to promote hand hygiene and the use of hydro-alcoholic solutions for disinfecting both mobile phones as hands.
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