Bacterial contamination on mobile phones in the theatre area of a large veterinary hospital.

Background: Mobile phones are commonly used in clinical areas, including theatre, anaesthesia and patient preparation. Contamination rates of 72.6%-100% for mobile phones are reported in human healthcare, including multidrug-resistant bacteria in more than 30%. Veterinary studies are limited to Methods: The personal and work mobile phones of veterinarians and nurses were swabbed for bacterial culture. Gram morphology and colony-forming units per millilitre (CFU/mL) were recorded for each bacteria grown. Participants completed an anonymous survey detailing habits of phone usage and hygiene. Results: Swabs from 39 mobile phones were collected, with 16 of 39 (41%) positive for bacterial contamination. Gram-positive cocci were most common (38.4%), with 5.13% Gram-positive coccobacilli, 5.13% Gram-positive rods and 2.56% Gram-negative rods. Veterinarians' mobile phones had a significantly higher incidence of contamination than nurses' (62.5% vs. 6.7%; Conclusions: Bacterial contamination of mobile phones was common, with veterinarians having a significantly higher incidence compared to nurses. Gram-positive cocci were most common, but Gram-positive coccobacilli, Gram-positive rods and Gram-negative rods were also present. Mobile phone hygiene could be usefully included in infection control guidelines as they are potential fomites for healthcare-associated infections.