by Brianna Crandall — March 28, 2016—A new study conducted by the National Center for Biotechnology Information focused on the disinfection of mobile devices in healthcare facilities, according to an article in the Health Facilities Magazine. The researchers tested 53 cellphones of orthopedic surgeons and found pathogenic bacteria on 83 percent of them at initial testing.
Hospitals and other healthcare facilities need to make sure these traveling surfaces are cleaned properly, the article urges.
The article cites a survey from the Health Information and Management Systems Society that the use of mobile devices in clinical settings is growing slowly but steadily, as well as a study in the American Journal of Infection Control that found that commonly touched objects, such as a computer keyboard and mouse, are often not included in a cleaning protocol.
The presence of mobile devices in hospitals is not limited to clinician use, notes the article. Environmental services managers and facilities professionals are using smartphones and tablets to monitor hand hygiene, communicate tasks, and log daily housekeeping and room turnovers.
Not only are mobile devices high-touch objects, they also travel throughout a facility and sometimes outside of the facility, warranting extra attention for infection prevention.
