Abstract
Background: Assuming that hygiene measures have improved significantly due to COVID-19, we aimed to investigate bacterial colonization on smartphones (SPs) owned by healthcare workers (HCWs) before and during the pandemic.
Methods: Employing a before-and-after study design, randomly selected HCWs were included. Devices underwent sampling under real-life conditions, without prior manipulation. Swabs were collected in 2012 (pre-pandemic) and 2021 to determine microbial colonization. Isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and underwent microbiological susceptibility testing.
Results: The final analysis included 295 HCWs (67% female, mean age 34 years) from 26 wards. Bacterial contamination was present on 293 of 295 SP screens (99.3%). The proportion of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens (eg Staphylococcus aureus, enterococci, Enterobacterales, non-fermenting bacteria) ranged from 21.2% in 2012 to 39.8% in 2021. Resistance profiles revealed a proportion of multidrug-resistant bacteria such as MRSA and VRE of less than 2%. The comparison of before-and-after sampling showed a significant increase in smartphone use during work from 2012 to 2021 with a simultaneous increase in cleaning intensity, probably as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusions: Bacterial contamination of SPs within the hospital is of concern and can serve as a source of cross-contamination. Hence, in addition to excellent hand hygiene, SPs must be carefully disinfected after handling in healthcare. Behavioral changes related to the COVID-19 pandemic could have a significant impact if implemented sustainably in everyday clinical practice.
Keywords: Bacterial contamination; Basic hygiene; COVID-19 pandemic; Healthcare workers; Healthcare-associated infections; Multidrug resistance; Smartphone; Touchscreen.
【저자키워드】 Healthcare workers, COVID-19 pandemic, Smartphone, Bacterial contamination, Basic hygiene, Healthcare-associated infections, Multidrug resistance, Touchscreen, 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, pandemic, susceptibility, hospital, healthcare worker, Contamination, HCWs, resistance, healthcare, female, Study design, age, Bacteria, Clinical practice, Bacterial, Device, Analysis, MRSA, Staphylococcus aureus, microbial, hygiene, HCW, intensity, profile, significant increase, measure, Final, handling, bacterial pathogen, basic, isolate, behavioral change, cross-contamination, multidrug-resistant, Randomly, selected, collected, significantly, proportion, addition, clinically, less, determine, increase in, conditions, ranged, Touchscreen, 【제목키워드】 hospital, healthcare worker, Contamination,