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Goldsworthy A, Olsen M, Koh A, Demaneuf T, Singh G, Almheiri R, Chapman B, Almazrouei S, Ghemrawi R, Senok A, McKirdy S, Alghafri R, Tajouri L. Extended Reality Head-Mounted Displays Are Likely to Pose a Significant Risk in Medical Settings While Current Classification Remains as Non-Critical. Microorganisms 2024; 12:815. [PMID: 38674759 PMCID: PMC11052361 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Extended reality (XR) devices, including virtual and augmented reality head-mounted displays (HMDs), are increasingly utilised within healthcare to provide clinical interventions and education. Currently, XR devices are utilised to assist in reducing pain and improving psychological outcomes for immunocompromised patients in intensive care units, palliative care environments and surgical theatres. However, there is a paucity of research on the risks of infection from such devices in healthcare settings. Identify existing literature providing insights into the infection control risk XR HMDs pose within healthcare facilities and the efficacy of current infection control and cleaning procedures. Three databases (PubMed, Embase and CINAHL) in addition to Google Scholar were systematically searched. A total of seven studies were identified for this review. Microorganisms, including pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), were found to be present on XR HMDs. Published cleaning and infection control protocols designed to disinfect XR HMDs and protect users were heterogeneous in nature. Current cleaning protocols displayed varying levels of efficacy with microbial load affected by multiple factors, including time in use, number of users and XR HMD design features. In healthcare settings, fitting XR HMDs harbouring microorganisms near biological and mucosal entry points presents an infection control risk. An urgent revision of the Spaulding classification is required to ensure flexibility that allows for these devices to be reclassified from 'Non-critical' to 'Semi-Critical' depending on the healthcare setting and patient population (surgery, immunocompromised, burns, etc.). This review identified evidence supporting the presence of microorganisms on XR HMDs. Due to the potential for HMDs to contact mucosal entry points, devices must be re-considered within the Spaulding classification as 'Semi-critical'. The existence of microbial contaminated XR HMDs in high-risk medical settings such as operating wards, intensive care units, emergency departments, labour and delivery wards and clinical areas with immunosuppressed patients requires urgent attention. Public health authorities have a duty of care to develop revised guidelines or new recommendations to ensure efficient sanitation of such devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Goldsworthy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (A.G.); (B.C.); (S.M.); (R.A.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia; (M.O.); (G.S.)
| | - Matthew Olsen
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia; (M.O.); (G.S.)
| | - Andy Koh
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka 589-8511, Japan;
| | | | - Gobinddeep Singh
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia; (M.O.); (G.S.)
| | - Reem Almheiri
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Brendan Chapman
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (A.G.); (B.C.); (S.M.); (R.A.)
| | - Shaima Almazrouei
- International Centre for Forensic Sciences, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Rose Ghemrawi
- Health and Biomedical Research Center, College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates;
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
- School of Dentistry, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Simon McKirdy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (A.G.); (B.C.); (S.M.); (R.A.)
| | - Rashed Alghafri
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (A.G.); (B.C.); (S.M.); (R.A.)
- AAU Health and Biomedical Research Center, Al Ain University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lotti Tajouri
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; (A.G.); (B.C.); (S.M.); (R.A.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Gold Coast, QLD 4226, Australia; (M.O.); (G.S.)
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates;
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Olsen M, Demaneuf T, Singh G, Goldsworthy A, Jones P, Morgan M, Nassar R, Senok A, Ghemrawi R, Almheiri R, Marzooqi HA, Almansoori S, Albastaki A, Almansoori R, McKirdy S, Alghafri R, Tajouri L. Do mobile phone surfaces carry SARS-CoV-2 virus? A systematic review warranting the inclusion of a "6th" moment of hand hygiene in healthcare. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:1750-1760. [PMID: 37738691 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mobile phones, used in billions throughout the world, are high-touch devices subject to a dynamic contamination of microorganisms and rarely considered as an important fomite to sanitise systematically. The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 resulted in the COVID-19 pandemic, arguably the most impactful pandemic of the 21st century with millions of deaths and disruption of all facets of modern life globally. AIM To perform a systematic review of the literature exploring SARS-CoV-2 presence as a contaminant on mobile phones. METHODS A systematic search (PubMed and Google Scholar) of literature was undertaken from December 2019 to March 2023 identifying English language studies. Studies included in this review specifically identified or tested for the contamination of the SARS-CoV-2 virus or genome on mobile phones while studies testing for SARS-COV-2 in environments and/or other fomites samples than but not mobile phones were excluded. RESULTS A total of 15 studies with reports of SARS-CoV-2 contamination on mobile phones between 2020 and 2023 were included. Amongst all studies, which encompassed ten countries, 511 mobile phones were evaluated for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 contamination and 45% (231/511) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. All studies were conducted in the hospital setting and two studies performed additional testing in residential isolation rooms and a patient's house. Four studies (3 in 2020 and one in 2021) reported 0% contamination while two other studies (in 2020 and 2022) reported 100% of mobile phone contamination with SARS-COV-2. All other studies report mobile phones positive for the virus within a range of 4-77%. CONCLUSION A total of 45% of mobile phones are contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 virus. These devices might be an important fomite vector for viral dissemination worldwide. Competent health authorities are advised/recommended to start a global implementation of mobile phone decontamination by introducing regulations and protocols in public health and health care settings such as the 6th moment of hand washing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Olsen
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Gobinddeep Singh
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Adrian Goldsworthy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Jones
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Morgan
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rose Ghemrawi
- College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University, P.O. Box 112612, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Reem Almheiri
- General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Hussain Al Marzooqi
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sumaya Almansoori
- General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdullah Albastaki
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rashid Almansoori
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Simon McKirdy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Rashed Alghafri
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lotti Tajouri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia; Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
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Olsen M, Goldsworthy A, Nassar R, Senok A, Albastaki A, Lee ZZ, Abraham S, Alghafri R, Tajouri L, McKirdy S. Ultraviolet-C-Based Mobile Phone Sanitisation for Global Public Health and Infection Control. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1876. [PMID: 37630437 PMCID: PMC10456618 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11081876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mobile phones act as fomites that pose a global public health risk of disseminating microorganisms, including highly pathogenic strains possessing antimicrobial resistances. The use of ultraviolet-C (UV-C) to sanitise mobile phones presents an alternative means to complement basic hand hygiene to prevent the cross-contamination and dissemination of microorganisms between hands and mobile phones. AIM This study aimed to evaluate the germicidal efficacy of the Glissner CleanPhone UV-C phone sanitiser (Glissner) device. METHODS Two experimental trials were performed for the evaluation of the CleanPhone (Glissner). The first was a controlled trial, where the germicidal efficacy of the CleanPhone was evaluated against six different microorganism species that were inoculated onto mobile phones. The second was a field trial evaluating the germicidal efficacy of the CleanPhone on 100 volunteer mobile phones. Efficacy was determined based on colony counts of microorganisms on Columbia sheep blood agar before and after UV-C treatment. RESULTS In the controlled trial, reduction in growth was observed for all microorganisms after UV-C treatment with ST131 Escherichia coli showing the highest growth reduction at 4 log10 CFU/mL followed by C. albicans and ATCC E. coli at 3 log10 CFU/mL. An overall reduction in microorganism growth after UV-C treatment was also observed for the field trial, with an average growth reduction of 84.4% and 93.6% in colony counts at 24 h and 48 h post-incubation, respectively. CONCLUSION The findings demonstrated the capability of the CleanPhone (Glissner) to rapidly sanitise mobile phones, thereby providing a means to reduce the potential dissemination of microorganisms, including highly pathogenic strains with antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Olsen
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia
| | - Adrian Goldsworthy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
- Oral and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdullah Albastaki
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai P.O. Box 1493, United Arab Emirates
- General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai P.O. Box 1493, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zheng Z. Lee
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Sam Abraham
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Rashed Alghafri
- General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai P.O. Box 1493, United Arab Emirates
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Lotti Tajouri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4226, Australia
- Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai P.O. Box 1493, United Arab Emirates
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Simon McKirdy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
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Kuo SH, Liu TY, Chen TC, Yang CJ, Chen YH. Impact of Plastic-Wrap Properties and Cleaning Intervals on the Disinfection of Elevator Buttons. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1649. [PMID: 36674403 PMCID: PMC9863425 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Fomite transmission is a possible route by which different pathogens spread within facilities. In hospital settings, elevator buttons are widely observed to be covered with various types of plastic wraps; however, limited information is available concerning the impact of different plastic materials on cleaning. Our study aimed to identify which plastic material is suitable for the coverage of elevator buttons and the optimal intervals for their cleaning. We tested six plastic covers, including polyethylene (PE), polymethylpentene (PMP), polyvinyl chloride (PVD), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) plastic wraps; a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) keyboard cover; and a polyethylene terephthalate-ethylene vinyl acetate (PET-EVA) laminating film, which are plastic films. The bioburden on the elevator buttons at different time intervals was measured using an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence assay. Our results show that wraps made of PVDC had superior durability compared with those of PMP, PVC, and PVDC, in addition to the lowest detectable ATP levels among the six tested materials. Regarding different button locations, the highest ATP values were found in door-close buttons followed by door-open, and first-floor buttons after one- and three-hour intervals (p = 0.024 and p < 0.001, respectively). After routine disinfection, the ATP levels of buttons rapidly increased after touching and became more prominent after three hours (p < 0.05). Our results indicate that PVDC plastic wraps have adequate durability and the lowest residual bioburden when applied as covers for elevator buttons. Door-close and -open buttons were the most frequently touched sites, requiring more accurate and precise disinfection; therefore, cleaning intervals of no longer than three hours may be warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Huei Kuo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 68, Jhonghua 3rd Road, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Yin Liu
- Infection Control Office, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 68, Jhonghua 3rd Road, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
| | - Tun-Chieh Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 68, Jhonghua 3rd Road, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Infection Control Office, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 68, Jhonghua 3rd Road, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Jen Yang
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hsu Chen
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, No. 100, Shih-Chuan 1st Road, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, No. 70, Lien-Hai Road, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
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Boucherabine S, Nassar R, Mohamed L, Olsen M, Alqutami F, Zaher S, Hachim M, Alkhajeh A, McKirdy S, Alghafri R, Tajouri L, Senok A. Healthcare Derived Smart Watches and Mobile Phones are Contaminated Niches to Multidrug Resistant and Highly Virulent Microbes. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:5289-5299. [PMID: 36106052 PMCID: PMC9464629 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s378524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As high touch wearable devices, the potential for microbial contamination of smart watches is high. In this study, microbial contamination of smart watches of healthcare workers (HCWs) was assessed and compared to the individual’s mobile phone and hands. Methods This study was part of a larger point prevalence survey of microbial contamination of mobile phones of HCWs at the emergency unit of a tertiary care facility. Swabs from smart watches, mobile phones and hands were obtained from four HCWs with dual ownership of these digital devices. Bacterial culture was carried out for all samples and those from smart watches and mobile phones were further assessed using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Results Majority of the participants were females (n/N = 3/4; 75%). Although they all use their digital devices at work and believe that these devices could harbour microbes, cleaning in the preceding 24 hours was reported by one individual. Predominant organisms identified on bacterial culture were multidrug resistant Staphylococcus hominis and Staphylococcus epidermidis. At least one organism identified from the hands was also detected on all mobile phones and two smart watches. Shotgun metagenomics analysis demonstrated greater microbial number and diversity on mobile phones compared to smart watches. All devices had high signatures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and associated bacteriophages and antibiotic resistance genes. Almost half of the antibiotic resistance genes (n/N = 35/75;46.6%) were present on all devices and majority were related to efflux pumps. Of the 201 virulence factor genes (VFG) identified, majority (n/N = 148/201;73%) were associated with P. aeruginosa with 96% (n/N = 142/148) present on smart watches and mobile phones. Conclusion This first report on microbial contamination of smart watches using metagenomics next generation sequencing showed similar pattern of contamination with microbes, VFG and antibiotic resistance genes across digital devices. Further studies on microbial contamination of wearable digital devices are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Boucherabine
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Oral and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Lobna Mohamed
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Matthew Olsen
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatma Alqutami
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shroque Zaher
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mahmood Hachim
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | | | - Simon McKirdy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Rashed Alghafri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia.,Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.,General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lotti Tajouri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia.,Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.,Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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Mobile phones are hazardous microbial platforms warranting robust public health and biosecurity protocols. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10009. [PMID: 35705596 PMCID: PMC9199474 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-14118-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in technology and communication have revolutionised the twenty-first century with the introduction of mobile phones and smartphones. These phones are known to be platforms harbouring microbes with recent research shedding light on the abundance and broad spectrum of organisms they harbour. Mobile phone use in the community and in professional sectors including health care settings is a potential source of microbial dissemination. To identify the diversity of microbial genetic signature present on mobile phones owned by hospital medical staff. Twenty-six mobile phones of health care staff were swabbed. DNA extraction for downstream next generation sequencing shotgun metagenomic microbial profiling was performed. Survey questionnaires were handed to the staff to collect information on mobile phone usage and users' behaviours. Each of the 26 mobile phones of this study was contaminated with microbes with the detection of antibiotic resistance and virulent factors. Taken together the sum of microbes and genes added together across all 26 mobile phones totalised 11,163 organisms (5714 bacteria, 675 fungi, 93 protists, 228 viruses, 4453 bacteriophages) and 2096 genes coding for antibiotic resistance and virulent factors. The survey of medical staff showed that 46% (12/26) of the participants used their mobile phones in the bathroom. Mobile phones are vectors of microbes and can contribute to microbial dissemination and nosocomial diseases worldwide. As fomites, mobile phones that are not decontaminated may pose serious risks for public health and biosecurity.
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Boucherabine S, Nassar R, Zaher S, Mohamed L, Olsen M, Alqutami F, Hachim M, Alkhaja A, Campos M, Jones P, McKirdy S, Alghafri R, Tajouri L, Senok A. Metagenomic Sequencing and Reverse Transcriptase PCR Reveal That Mobile Phones and Environmental Surfaces Are Reservoirs of Multidrug-Resistant Superbugs and SARS-CoV-2. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:806077. [PMID: 35372113 PMCID: PMC8964345 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.806077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mobile phones of healthcare workers (HCWs) can act as fomites in the dissemination of microbes. This study was carried out to investigate microbial contamination of mobile phones of HCWs and environmental samples from the hospital unit using a combination of phenotypic and molecular methods. Methods This point prevalence survey was carried out at the Emergency unit of a tertiary care facility. The emergency unit has two zones, a general zone for non-COVID-19 patients and a dedicated COVID-19 zone for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients. Swabs were obtained from the mobile phones of HCWs in both zones for bacterial culture and shotgun metagenomic analysis. Metagenomic sequencing of pooled environmental swabs was conducted. RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection was carried out. Results Bacteria contamination on culture was detected from 33 (94.2%) mobile phones with a preponderance of Staphylococcus epidermidis (n/N = 18/35), Staphylococcus hominis (n/N = 13/35), and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (n/N = 7/35). Two methicillin-sensitive and three methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and one pan-drug-resistant carbapenemase producer Acinetobacter baumannii were detected. Shotgun metagenomic analysis showed high signature of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mobile phone and environmental samples with preponderance of P. aeruginosa bacteriophages. Malassezia and Aspergillus spp. were the predominant fungi detected. Fourteen mobile phones and one environmental sample harbored protists. P. aeruginosa antimicrobial resistance genes mostly encoding for efflux pump systems were detected. The P. aeruginosa virulent factor genes detected were related to motility, adherence, aggregation, and biofilms. One mobile phone from the COVID-19 zone (n/N = 1/5; 20%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 detection while all other phone and environmental samples were negative. Conclusion The findings demonstrate that mobile phones of HCWs are fomites for potentially pathogenic and highly drug-resistant microbes. The presence of these microbes on the mobile phones and hospital environmental surfaces is a concern as it poses a risk of pathogen transfer to patients and dissemination into the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Boucherabine
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Nassar
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Oral and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Shroque Zaher
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lobna Mohamed
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Matthew Olsen
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Fatma Alqutami
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mahmood Hachim
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abdulmajeed Alkhaja
- Medical Education & Research Department, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mariana Campos
- CSIRO Land and Water, CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Peter Jones
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon McKirdy
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - Rashed Alghafri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia.,Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.,General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Dubai Future Council on Community Security and Dubai Police Scientists Council, Duba, United Arab Emirates
| | - Lotti Tajouri
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Robina, QLD, Australia.,General Department of Forensic Sciences and Criminology, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.,Dubai Future Council on Community Security and Dubai Police Scientists Council, Duba, United Arab Emirates
| | - Abiola Senok
- College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14102. [PMID: 34239006 PMCID: PMC8266881 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-93622-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
There is increasing attention focussed on the risks associated with mobile phones possibly serving as ‘Trojan Horse’ fomites for microbial transmission in healthcare settings. However, little is reported on the presence of microbes on community derived mobile phones which in 2021, numbered in the billions in circulation with majority being used on a daily basis. Identify viable microbial organisms swabbed from smartphones on a university campus. Entire surfaces of 5 mobile phones were swabbed and examined for their microbial content using pre-agar-based growths followed by downstream DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing analysis. All phones were contaminated with viable microbes. 173 bacteria, 8 fungi, 8 protists, 53 bacteriophages, 317 virulence factor genes and 41 distinct antibiotic resistant genes were identified. While this research represents a pilot study, the snapshot metagenomic analysis of samples collected from the surface of mobile phones has revealed the presence of a large population of viable microbes and an array of antimicrobial resistant factors. With billions of phones in circulation, these devices might be responsible for the rise of community acquired infections. These pilot results highlight the importance of public health authorities considering mobile phones as ‘Trojan Horse’ devices for microbial transmission and ensure appropriate decontamination campaigns are implemented.
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