BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF HOSPITAL TELEPHONES

Objective: To assess the contamination of phones in different wards of one academic hospital in order to find out the association and pattern of the contamination with seasons, wards, and cleaning methods used. Methodology: Samples were collected in a six months period. The samples were collected on a specified day on each month and at two different times of day. Samples were taken from mouthpiece and earpiece of the phones and were used for culture. Results: S.epidermidis was the most common bacterium cultured in each month and in each ward. Contamination of mouthpiece was more common than earpiece. Conclusion: Considering the possibility of transmission of the contamination via phones by people who use them and in order to reduce the burden of nosocomial infections, special attention should be directed toward disinfection of the phones as well as other hospital devices.