Staphylococcus aureus surface contamination of mobile phones and presence of genetically identical strains on the hands of nursing personnel

• Published in: American journal of infection control Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 929 - 931
• Main Authors: Katsuse Kanayama, Akiko, PhD, Takahashi, Hiroshi, PhD, Yoshizawa, Sadako, MD, PhD, Tateda, Kazuhiro, MD, PhD, Kaneko, Akihiro, DDS, PhD, Kobayashi, Intetsu, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-08-2017
• Subjects: Bacterial contamination; Cell Phone; DNA fingerprinting; Environmental Microbiology; Hand - microbiology; Health care–associated infection; Humans; Infection Control; Infectious Disease; Mobile phones; Nurses; Nursing personnel; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification; Nursing personnel; Bacterial contamination; DNA fingerprinting; Health care–associated infection; Staphylococcus aureus; Mobile phones
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.02.011

We investigated the genetic relatedness of Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from mobile phones and palms and fingers of users. Genetically identical isolates were detected from mobile phones and their user and multiple users, which is consistent with mobile phones serving as reservoirs of infection in the health care environment. These findings reinforce the need for hand hygiene prior to patient contact as the most effective intervention for preventing health care–associated infection.