Introduction
Healthcare workers (HCWs) may be using their mobile phones (MPs) to carry microbes
that cause hospital-acquired and community infections in general. With antibiotic
resistance problem emergence, these infections can be challenging to eradicate.
Hence, this study aimed to determine the microbial contamination of HCW MPs and
identify and classify bacterial isolates in Palestine.
 Methods.
This was a 7-month comparative cross-sectional analysis of 200 HCW MPs from 2
hospitals and 100 MPs from university students (non-HCWs). Data collection was done
using a self-administrated questionnaire, and a swab sample from both HCW and non-
HCW MPs was obtained and transferred to An-Najah National University (NNU)
microbiology lab for bacterial identification and antibiotic susceptibility. Data were
analyzed using Social Sciences Statistical Package (SPSS) version 22.0. 
Result.
Among HCWs, the microbial contamination was 87.5%. Coagulase-
negative staphylococci (CoNS; 67.3%), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus
aureus (MSSA; 17.5%), Gram-positive bacilli (4.1%), methicillin-
resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA; 1.6%), and Gram-negative species (1.6%)
were the most predominant bacterial isolates. More than half of staphylococci isolates
were resistant to penicillin and erythromycin. Male gender, using a mobile phone in the
bathroom, and entry to the operating theatre were associated with mobile phone
contamination and increased resistance against specific antibiotics. Among non-HCWs,
the contamination was 86%. The most predominant bacterial isolates were CoNS,

MSSA, and Gram-positive bacilli, with a contamination of 66.8%, 28.5%, and 2.6%,
respectively. No MRSA or Gram-negative species were detected in this group. Antibiotic
resistance percentage of staphylococci was nearly half of that yielded in the HCW group
against each antibiotic. 
Conclusion.
Significant numbers of bacteria have been isolated from HCW MPs. Working in a
hospital environment frequently raises the probability of presence of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria on a MP. Therefore, infection control teams should discuss methods to prevent
the transmission of drug-resistant pathogens from HCW MPs.

Conference Title

The 11th international Palestinian Conference For Laboratory Medicine, Palestinian Red Crescent Society Hall, Al-Bireh -2021.

Conference Country

Palestine

Conference Date

Aug. 26, 2021 - Aug. 28, 2021

Conference Sponsor

نقابة الطب المخبري - فلسطين