Abstract:

  INTRODUCTION: Microorganism colonization of hands shaves an important role in the development of hospital infections. Nowadays, mobile phones are one of the most frequently touched devices by health professionals. In this study, we have studied cultures which were taken from touch-screen mobile phones, microorganism colonizations and we have determined pathogenic microorganisms, also assessed whether these microorganisms take a role at the hospital infection development. METHODS: Samples were inoculated from surfaces of mobile phones to blood agar and eosine methylene blue medium by sterile sticks. After 24 hours, microorganisms which have different colony morfologies were assessed by gram staining. Gram positive cocci furtherly processed with catalase and coagulase, inoculated to mueller hinton culture medium by adjustment to 0.5 macfarland, sefoxitine disc placed on to it. Resistant and sensitive bacteria were assessed through CLSI criterias. RESULTS: Bacterial growth was not monitored at 8(%17.7) samples over 45 samples. There were 3 different types of growth at 5 samples, 2 different types of growth at 15 samples and 1 type of growth at 17 samples. After identification, bacterial types were determined as; %51.6 Methyciline sensitive coagulase negative staphylococcus, %20,9 Methyciline sensitive staphylococcus aureus, %8.06 Methyciline resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus, %11.2 micrococcus, %6.4 bacillus spp. and %1.6 alpha hemolytic streptococcus. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Since touching frequently to mobile phones’ surfaces, they become suitable media for microorganism colonization. Not too be proparly to hand hygiene before and after patient contact leads to microorganism transfer from patient or health professional to mobile phone surfaces. In order to break down this chain, hand washing is recommended as a basic principle. Although there were not adequate sample quantity in order to compare there sult sprecisely, the fact that the users of mobile phones with no bacterial growth or only one colony growth belong to the laboratory professional shave showed that using laboratory gloves and frequently washing hands can have an impact in substantial contribution at preventing hospital infection cycle between patients, health professional sand mobile phone surfaces, and this should be studied in much more large population groups.

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