Biofilm on smartphones of healthcare professionals: pattern of device use and decontamination

Authors

  • Hélio Galdino Júnior Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: helio_junior@ufg.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5570-8183
  • Vítor Hugo Marques Universidade Federal de Jataí (UFJ), Jataí, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: enf.vitorhmarques@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1805-4675
  • Carmem Gabriela Bianchini Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: carmemgabriela12@hotmail.com.
  • Marcella Cristina Vieira Silva Vitta Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: marcella_1221@hotmail.com.
  • Cristiana Costa Luciano Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: cristiana.ufg@gmail.com. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2309-3719
  • Dayane de Melo Costa Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: daynesaga@yahoo.com.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1855-061X
  • Anaclara Ferreira Veiga Tipple Universidade Federal de Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. E-mail: anaclara_tipple@ufg.br. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0812-2243

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/ree.v24.71216

Keywords:

Smartphone, Health Personnel, Biofilms, Equipment Contamination, Decontamination, Infection Control

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the presence of biofilm on the protective glass films of smartphones of health professionals, to investigate the pattern of use and decontamination of smartphones in the health care environment of a medium-sized hospital. Methods: analytical and cross-sectional study, carried out with health professionals with smartphones. Structured interviews were carried out and the presence of biofilm on the protective glass films of smartphones was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Results: all film samples were positive for the presence of biofilm, even after decontamination with alcohol 70%. 96.4% of the participants used a smartphone in the work environment, most used the device for personal purposes and decontaminated it with alcohol 70% with irregular frequency. Conclusion(s): the smartphones can serve as a fomite, considering that biofilms were detected on the surface of the films. These findings point to the need for infection control policies related to the use of smartphones.

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Published

2022-12-29

Issue

Vol. 24 (2022)

Section

Original Article

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