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Hazardous
Mobile Devices
…Or, When a COMPUTER
Virus is the least of your
concerns
June 19, 2013
Articles
In several search attempts, I found only 1
article in the past 2 years (since Jan 2011)
that references the spread of disease via
mobile devices:
Tagoe D N, Gyande V K, Ansah E O.
Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones:
When Your Mobile Phone Could Transmit
More Than Just a Call. WebmedCentral
MICROBIOLOGY 2011;2(10):WMC002294,
http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_vi
ew/2294
Background
Mobile phones have become one of
the most indispensable accessories
of professional and social life.
However, several researchers have
indicated the potential colonization
of surfaces and their ability to
transmit diseases (fomites) of which
the mobile phone is no exception.
Methodology
Surfaces of 100 mobile
phones of randomly selected
university students were
aseptically swabbed.
Results
There was 100% contamination of
all the mobile phones surfaces by
11 different bacteria, including:
– Bacillus cereus
– Proteus mirabilis
– Salmonella spp.
– Shigella. spp.
– Escherichia coli
Study Conclusion
Mobile phones can be heavily
colonized by high quantities of
pathogenic bacteria and thus are
potential sources of disease
transmission requiring
application of sound personal
hygiene as preventive methods.
Why Is This a Problem?
A 2011 study found that 4 out of 5
physicians regularly use mobile
devices for medical purposes
– Jackson & Coker Research Associates.
Special Report: Apps, Doctors, and
Digital Devices. Jackson & Coker
Industry Report; Volume 4, Number 7.
September 2011.
http://industryreport.jacksoncoker.co
m//physician-careerresources/newsletters/monthlymain/d
es/Apps.aspx
Our Take-away
• Use of mobile devices in medical
settings is potentially a hazard to
patients and providers, alike.
• Awareness of both providers and
patients needs to be raised, with
the following caveats:
– Avoid creating panic while elevating
visibility of this issue.
– Provide reasonable prophylactic
procedures to reduce the possibility
that infectious agents will be
transferred from – or to – mobile
devices in medical settings.