Cell phone ear infections 2 :New cell tool detects ear infections

New cell tool detects ear infections

A new cell phone attachment allows doctors to diagnose ear infections without touching a patient’s ear.

June 03, 2013
Fever, irritability, and ear pain. Most parents are familiar with the classic signs of an ear infection, and almost all have forced their sick child out of bed to get to a doctor’s office only to be told that rest and fluids are all they need to recover. Luckily new technology may make the office visit a thing of the past. With a new mobile otoscope it is now possible to diagnose ear infections with your smart phone.
Just attach the device to your phone, snap a picture, and email it with notes about symptoms for diagnosis. If the infection is bad enough to warrant antibiotics a doctor can send a prescription request to a nearby pharmacy.
“It’s going to make it so that people can access care from non-traditional settings,” says Erik Douglas, CEO of Cellscope, the company behind the mobile otoscope.

An affordable self-diagnostic

Cellscope is a California-based mobile health start-up that aims to create a “digital first-aid kit” for in-home diagnosis. Cellscope started in 2006 in a University of California Berkeley lab that focused on mobile microscopy. Stemming from that lab is Cellscope’s otoscope, a digital microscope that clips onto a standard smartphone and takes and stores photos of the middle ear. Using the bright LED light from the smartphone, the otoscope is able to get a picture that is similar to what a doctor sees from a traditional otoscope.
Douglas says that the company hopes that the mobile otoscope will soon hit the mass market, much like modern ear thermometers that are now for sale in most drug stores. Cellscope is well on its way to that goal. It separated from the Berkeley lab in 2010 and has since raised $1 million in seed funding.
“Because we’re letting the phone do all the hard work, the actual product will cost in the range of $50-60,” he says. With standard video otoscopes costing over $1,000, the mobile attachment is a steal.

A way to reach the unreachable

The product is particularly useful for those in rural areas. While many regions of the world have little access to basic medical care, they often have access to cell phone networks. The otoscope has already been tested in pilot telemedicine projects in rural India, where it has been used to diagnose ear infections in areas without medical access.
It’s a field that scientists at The University of California in Berkley have been studying for years. A 2009 study by researchers at the university found that cell phone-based clinical microscopy could provide an “important tool for disease diagnosis and screening, particularly in the developing world and rural areas where laboratory facilities are scarce but mobile phone infrastructure is extensive.”
Jody Ranck, eHealth consultant and author of "Connected Health: How mobiles, cloud and big data will reinvent healthcare," says that mobile phones can change the way healthcare is delivered in developing countries.
“The field is expanding rapidly due to the ubiquity of cell phones in developing countries, and efforts to strengthen healthcare systems are putting mobiles forward as a central tool,” he says.

Endless possibilities for mobile health

Mobile health diagnosis is a growing field that is expected to expand even more in coming years. According to a study by tech research firm Juniper research, mobile health app downloads are expected to reach 142 million by 2016. But it’s still emerging, and Ranck says that major obstacles include a lack of data into cost effectiveness, difficulties in cooperation amongst stakeholders, and “fear from some in the health care sector.”
Still, the scope of cell phone diagnosis goes well beyond ear infections. Cellscope already has plans to expand its product offering to cover devices that can diagnose throat and skin ailments. For Douglas, the possibilities are endless.
“The field is changing rapidly and new tools are always becoming available,” he says. “You never know where it is going to go.”

Cool tools for mobile health

Cell phones are being used for more than just ear infection diagnosis. Current and developing products include:

• Microscopes that attach to your phone to diagnose throat and skin ailments 
• Blood and saliva analysis via a cell phone’s touch screen
• Wearable devices with sensors in fabric, contact lenses or implants to monitor vital signs, glucose levels, and other physiological signs
• SMS reminders for diabetes patients to take medication, visit the doctor, and check glucose levels
• AIDS test results delivered by SMS where traditional mail service is unreliable
• Data collection tools that allow for real-time epidemiological surveillance
• iPhone-enabled blood pressure cuffs

cell phone ear infections

 Don't Hold the Phone

cell phone ear infections
Maybe you're old enough that you don't have to worry about whether it's dangerous to hold a radio transmitter next to your skull, but it's not such a good idea to let your 12-year-old do it.
New tests funded by the cell phone industry show both biological and statistical links between cell phone use and brain cancer. We applaud the industry for releasing the studies despite the early warnings they sound. It's more than the tobacco industry ever did.
Note: It's only hand-held phones that are implicated. Phones mounted in cars, with the antenna outside, appear safe. And so, for that matter, does using a headphone that lets you hold the antenna away from your body.
Of course, these tests are still preliminary so hey, if that call's really all that important, don't let us stop you. Complete story.
John of Randolph, NJ, writes: What about lung cancer found in the lung over which the person stored his "on" cell phone? Interesting that the tumor was estimated to be 1 1/2 years old and my company switched to digital phones about the same time. More interesting is that our phones ranked 6th in power and are no longer manuafactured. Sony stopped all cell phone manufacture.
I finally exchanged the phone for a larger model and used that withnot any problems. I have since purchased another smaller unit and have been using it with no problems. But in the span of these years, I have cropped up with a tremor to my head which is uncontrollable. It was diagnosed as a hereditary trait but there is no one in my families with this trait that I am aware of.
I do believe in my heart that this condition came about because of using the cell phone. And as I read the stories of others, I am even more convinced of it. I am so glad that people are speaking out on this as I have kept quiet about it myself. But as a consumer, we should have the right to pertinent information about causes and effects of cell phones on our health. Thank you for letting me voice my opinion.
Martin of Dallas writes: After opening my business 5 years ago, I began using my phone between 1000 and 2500 minutes per month. About 6 months ago I stated having ear pains. I purchased "hands-free" kits and althugh 2 models helped me, 2 models would actually make it worse.
Now I purchased the speakerphone type. However when I use my phone next to my ear for over 15 minutes a day I have strong ear pains during the evening. I'm somewhat concerned and plan to have studies done soon. Sites like yours are helping me understand the situation a little better.
Stephanie of Lawrenceville, GA, writes: My father was in the telecommunications industry. He used cell phones for many years. He found he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma in his brain in 1997. He was treated and remained in remission for 15 months. It came back in October 1998. He passed away from this 2nd bout with the cancer March 19, 2000.
We have read and heard of so many cases where a lot of people who have brain tumors also use cell phones. I know it is not considered a fact yet. But if and when it is known to be factual I want a class action lawsuit put together and every cell phone manufacturer to pay for the damage and pain that have been caused to so many families.
My father was only 45 years old, a very active man, ate well, excercised. Until this cancer came along. I do believe it is because of cell phones that he got this cancer. Having to watch a loved one slowly die is the most horrible experience and no one should have to go through it.
Imagine having brain cancer. My father all of a sudden one day couldn't do anything, not even sit himself up in bed. My brother and I had to quit our jobs so my mother could keep hers and keep the house to take care of him. In his last 2 weeks of life we had to feed him morphine constantly to make him unaware of the pain he was going through. Now my mother is left a widow, my daughter no longer has her only grandfather whom she loved dearly and my younger brother turned 18 years old 4 days before our father passed away.
I want these cell phone companies to compensate the families who have gone through this.
Greg of Pomona, CA, writes: I have used hand held cell phones for about 5 years. Until a few weeks ago, I used the phone between 500-1,000 minutes per month. For about the last six months, I've been using a Qualcomm phone.
About three months ago, I had a large growth removed from my head near my right ear (the one I hold the cell phone to). Now, I have an ear infection, plus, constant headaches and ringing and pain in my right ear. Plus, I've felt very tired for the last 3 months, or, so.
God knows what is going to happen. I had no idea of the dangers of hand held cell phone use until about two weeks ago.
Fran of Cleveland writes: I have had the Nextel phone for over a year and i am experiencing dull vibrations that lesd to severe headaches while using the Nextel (Motorola) i1000. I have contacted Nextel and they told me that there has been no such complaints. Another employee that uses the Nextel phone also has the same thing happening to him.
Nextel has instructed me to bring in the unit because they feel it is "defective" and "dangerous". I am also scheduled to see my physician regarding this problem.

Diagnose ear infections with a smartphone

Anyone who grew up with ear infections can recognize an otoscope — a light with a plastic cone at end used by doctors to look inside your ears and throat. The device, typically found in doctor’s offices, might soon find a spot in home medicine cabinets thanks to mobile microscope company CellScope.
CellScope is developing an otoscope that attaches to a smartphone so anyone can snap a picture of the inside of an ear and send the image to a doctor for diagnosis. The company announced Monday that it raised $1 million in seed funding from Khosla Ventures to build its new device.
The company was started in UC Berkeley’s microscopy lab in 2008. CellScope originally focused on developing a 60x microscope attachment for any phone with a camera. The microscope could be used in developing countries that have little access to healthcare, but need to diagnose medical diseases without dedicated labs. Doctors and volunteers could use CellScope’s product while traveling to rural areas.
However, humanitarian medical efforts can only propel a company so far. In order to find a wider-spread application for its technology, the company joined the Rock Health incubator in 2011. Since graduating from Rock Health, CellScope has worked on a consumer side of its business and attracted the investment from Khosla Ventures.
CellScope’s first consumer offering is the cell phone otoscope, which can be used by parents to diagnose their children’s ear infections. Instead of spending time in a doctor’s office, the device takes photographs of the ear to share with a medical professional so they can prescribe treatment. The company claims the device could save around 30 million pediatric doctor appointments each year that result from ear infections and ear aches.

Effects of cellphone/mobile phone use on brain and memory

How cell phones affect our health?

Yes cell phones affect our memory, as there have been recent studies and researches done on animals kept in laboratories that have shown ill effects of mobile phone radiations on their memory. Cell phone radiation caused leaks in the brain tissues of rats that were exposed to this radiation for a test trial. Though we cannot avoid using cell phones, as they have become a necessity, one thing which we can do is use a hands-free to avoid direct radiation.
Do mobile phones harm brain tissues and cause cancer?
There is an argument that mobile phone causes change in the structure of chemicals of cells. Also, they are accused of causing cancer. The radiation from the mobile phones has been villainized by those who warn that the excess usage of mobile phones can damage brain cells. The heat produced by the radiation from mobile phones has been found to change the chemical structure of chemicals synthesized in small organisms like worms. But many scientists are of opinion that the radiation cannot be harmful to human tissues. A recent report says that so far there is no evidence of any adverse effect by mobile phone radiations, but they added that new researches have to be conducted.
Recently, I have observed some serious effects of mobile phone radiation on brain. In brain, hippocampus is understood to be responsible for learning and memory. In order to confirm this, we have carried out investigations on the whole brain, hippocampus, and remaining brain. This was undertaken to determine the possible site of the electromagnetic field (EMF) bio-interaction. We have concluded that these radiations may damage our nervous system, especially memory. This has been done by protein kinase C activity and DNA strand break, which has been affected by mobile phone radiations.
Anyway it is better to prevent kids from using mobile phones excessively because their brain tissues are more vulnerable to chemical changes and cancer if exposed to radiation.
When you try to call someone through mobile phone, do not put your mobile closer to your ears until the recipient answers. Because directly after dialing the mobile phone, it would use its maximum signaling power, which is 2 watts which is equal to 33 dbi. Please be careful. Message as received (Save your brain. Please use your left ear while using cell (mobile), because if you use the right one, it will affect the brain directly. This is a true fact from many researches performed by the medical teams around the world.

Mobile Cell Phone Microwave Radiation Hazards

Cell phones have become a prime concern in today's world but what about the ill effects

Have you got rid of recieving so many calls? Do you want throw your mobile away for a few days?

Have you experienced headaches with using cell phones?

Children should avoid cell phones as they are more prone to damage to brain tissues with mobile use and should be avoided in schools too.

Do not use cell phones while driving as it can cause accidents

Are cell phones safe?

Are the waves from the cell phones harmful?
Yes, the waves from the cell phones are harmful to our physical body such as our heart, but most of us cannot avoid it. It can affect our heart and internal organs. Recent study tells that even reproductive organs are adversely affected by waves that come from cell phones. It is better to use a mobile operator which works on a lower frequency, as higher frequency can have higher ill effects on our brain.
I have seen a documentary on CNN on which it was told that these rays can cause cancer if you will keep the cell phone with you all that time. Also, I have heard that we should not keep cell phone near our body or especially under the pillow while sleeping.
We should keep cell phones a few feet away from our body while sleeping.

Cell-phones can mislead drivers

Drivers who listen to cell phone conversations are distracted even if they do not talk, exhibiting similar behavior as people who have been drinking. The study conducted at the Center for Cognitive Brain Imaging at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh used brain imaging to document that when driving and listening, activity in the parietal lobe, the portion of the brain associated with driving, was reduced by 37%.
We have all read articles about the dangers of using mobile phones. The controversy about the effects of exposure to mobile phone radiation continues to drive many a journalistic career, but what have we really seen? Ourselves?

1. Whenever a mobile is about to receive a message/call, the radiation is quite strong, as evidenced by the effect on nearby CRT monitors, or the distinctly repetitive noise that disturbs your landline phone calls.
2. WorldSpace reception blanks out whenever a message is received by a phone kept within 2 feet of the receiver. Notably, the same effect happens whenever the tube light starts (perhaps due to the "starter" releasing radio waves as it builds and then releases the high voltage required to get the current flowing).

Have you ever noticed similar effects? Do you shy away from using mobile phones for a long stretch, or if forced to, resort to using a hands-free kit?

A few tips on how to avoid radiation from cell phones:

• At your workplace or office, there should be strict screening of calls.
• Use voicemail regularly when working on something from which you do not want to be disturbed. When responding back, it helps to collect the thoughts and speak just how much is required.
• People who attend a lot of teleconferences should use a wireless headphone cum mike. It is easier than the headset on the ears which one has to keep pressed to the ear, especially since the meetings may go on for hours.
• At home, turn on the loudspeaker, so there is not much of a problem for the ears and brain.
• While traveling, use earphones.
• Keep mobile phones a few feet away from your body while sleeping.
• Do not talk for too long on your cell phone. Short calls will avoid unwanted radiation and also you will save money on calls.

Effects of cell phone use on direct human-to-human interaction

Among the other things that cell phones destroy are the pleasures of direct human-to-human interaction. I have seen many people including so embarrassingly myself too being obsessed with a relationship over the phone. But this situation has become inevitable since our situation is warranted by the de-location of opportunities and jobs. I felt very much relieved for one week when I lost my mobile. Like other addictions, cell phones have also become an addiction. We are ignored real persons and been communicating with virtual persons over the phones but ultimately it becomes a sort of a ill health. Now, there have been studies showing how detrimental cell phone is for physical health too, so I am learning to avoid using cell phone without discretion.

Cell Phones in the Hospital May Cause Infections

Both hospital patients and their visitors may want to consider leaving their cell phone at home. A recent Turkish study found that their cell phones were covered in pathogens — disease causing bacteria.

Cell phones have not yet been positively linked to hospital infections, but this is the second study suggesting that they may serve as a reservoir of dangerous bacteria capable of causing hospital-acquired infections in patients.

Swabs taken from the phones and from workers' hands revealed similar numbers and types of bacteria, including MRSA.

There are an estimated 1.7 million hospital-acquired infections in the U.S. every year and they're associated with around 100,000 deaths.

The focus on cell phones as a possible infection source was inspired by another study back in 2009. That study found that 95% of the cell phones of doctors and nurses in operating rooms and intensive care units were contaminated with bacteria. Swabs taken from the phones and from workers' hands revealed similar numbers and types of bacteria, including MRSA. Staphylococcus aureus was found on about one-quarter of the phones and 52% were methicillin resistant.

The new study found that visitor and patient phones were considerably more contaminated than those of hospital employees. Roughly 40% of the non-employee phones tested contained disease-causing bacteria, compared to 20% of the employee phones. And the phones of patients and visitors were much more likely to contain multi-drug resistant pathogens than the hospital workers' phones were.

This 2011 study looked at 200 phones, 133 belonging to patients, their companions and visitors and 67 medical employees' phones. Swab samples were collected from earphone, keypad and speaker, and these samples were then grown on appropriate culture medium to determine the types of bacteria present on the phones.

While no one is quite sure yet just how big a threat cell phones pose to hospital infection control, the two studies have raised concerns. Whether they will lead to the creation of cell phone-free zones in hospitals or specific sterilization procedures for the cell phones remains to be seen.

Many cell phone owners report cleaning their phone with a cloth or swab lightly moistened with alcohol. This also helps sterilize the phone. Because alcohol can damage some types of phone screens and the phone's internal parts, people doing this for the first time run the risk of ruining their phone. If this happens, they can at least take comfort in knowing that a newly-bought phone should be a lot cleaner and freer of bacteria than the old one was.

The 2011 study was published in the June issue of American Journal of Infection Control. The 2009 study was published in the March 6, 2009 issue of Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials and is freely available.

Beware infections from patient cell phone

For years, hospitals were reluctant to allow visitors or even staff to use cell phones over unfounded fears that the radio signals could interfere with sensitive medical equipment. Now, there may be a real risk associated with cell phones in hospitals: mobile devices carry all kinds of bacteria, some of them resistant to multiple antibiotics.

According to a study in the June issue of the American Journal of Infection Control, cell phones carried by patients and visitors were nearly twice as likely as the mobile phones of health workers to carry pathogens. Patient phones also tested for higher rates of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA.

Researchers in the Department of Medical Microbiology atInonu University in Turkey tested the keypads, microphones and earpieces of 200 cell phones—67 from hospital employees and 133 from patients and other hospital visitors. They found harmful bacteria on 39.6 percent of patient phones and 20.6 percent of phones belonging to workers. None of the employees’ phones contained resistant strains of bacteria, the researchers said, but seven patient phones did.

This, according to the Turkish research team, suggests that infection control efforts are working for healthcare personnel and need to be extended to patients and hospital visitors.

“The types of bacteria that were found on the patients’ [phones] and their resistance patterns were very worrisome,” the study said. “Some investigators have reported that cell phones of medical personnel may be a potential source of bacterial pathogens in the hospital setting.”

The authors say that hospital-acquired infections affect at least a quarter of inpatients in developing countries such as Turkey. In the U.S., 1.7 million such infections cause an estimated 100,000 deaths annually.

Mobile Phones in Hospital Settings: A Serious Threat to Infection Control Practices

The global system for mobile telecommunication was established in 1982 in Europe with a view of providing an improved communications network. The first use of mobile phones in India was in 1995; today there are 287 million mobile phone users in India, which accounts for 85 percent of all telecommunication users.1 Today, mobile phones have become one of the most indispensable accessories of professional and social life. Although they are usually stored in bags or pockets, mobile phones are handled frequently and held close to the face.2

Hospital-acquired infections affect more than 25 percent of admitted patients in developing countries. In U.S. hospitals, they cause 1.7 million infections per year and are associated with approximately 100,000 deaths. It is estimated that one third of these infections could be prevented by adhering to standard infection control guidelines.3

Germ Prone
Increasing functionality and affordable prices for cellphones and smart phones have resulted in a global reliance on staying connected. Cell phones are now commonplace, whether it be the dinner table, the kitchen, a restaurant, the gym, or even the bathroom. These factors and the heat generated by cellphones contribute to harboring bacteria on the device at alarming levels. When we consider a cellphone's daily contact with the face, mouth, ears, and hands, the dire health risks of using germ-infested mobile devices are obvious.

Unlike our hands, which are easily sterilized using hand sanitizers made available readily across all hospitals and medical facilities, our mobile phones are cumbersome to clean. Even we rarely make an effort to sanitize them. As a result, these devices carry a variety of bacteria. Cellphones are used often in hospitals by patients, visitors, and health care workers. Also, travelers who go to low-income countries where potable water and good sanitation are limited are exposed to the risk of contracting infections because these individuals carry phones, and the potential of such accessories to spread bacterial infection is not yet clear.4

Bacterial Infections in Health Care Workers and Corporate Users
A study was conducted in Southern India to determine whether mobile phones of health care workers (HCWs) and corporate users harbor micro-organisms. Swabs collected from mobile phones were inoculated in solid and liquid media and incubated aerobically. Growth was identified as per standard microbiological procedures.

Antibiotic susceptibility was determined for Staphylococcus aureus. A questionnaire was used for data collection on awareness of mobile phone use. Of 51 HCWs and 36 corporate mobile phones sampled, only five (6 percent) showed no growth. Pathogens isolated from HCW samples included S. aureus (methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus), Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Coagulase-negative Staphylococci also were isolated. Among corporate isolates, 29 percent were pathogenic. Polymicrobial growth was detected in 71 percent of HCW mobile phones and 78 percent of corporate mobile phones. Only 12 percent of HCWs used disinfectants to wipe their mobile phones.

Therefore, it was concluded that mobile phones serve as a ready surface for colonization of nosocomial agents, indicating the importance of hand hygiene to prevent cross-transmission.5

The first study of bacterial contamination of mobile phones was conducted in a teaching hospital in Turkey with a bed capacity of 200 and one intensive care unit.6 One-fifth of the cellular telephones examined in a study conducted in New York were found to harbor pathogenic microorganisms.7 Health care workers' mobile phones provide a reservoir of bacteria known to cause nosocomial infections. UK National Health Service restrictions on the utilization of mobile phones within hospitals have been relaxed; however, utilization of these devices by inpatients and the risk of cross-contamination are currently unknown.

Demographics and characteristics of mobile phone utilization by inpatients and phone surface microbial contamination were examined by Brady, et al. One hundred and two out of 145 (70.3 percent) inpatients who completed a questionnaire detailing their opinions and utilization of mobile phones also provided their mobile phones for bacteriological analysis and comparative bacteriological swabs from their nasal cavities; 92.4 percent of patients supported utilization of mobile phones by inpatients; indeed, 24.5 percent of patients stated that mobile phones were vital to their inpatient stay.

Patients in younger age categories were more likely to possess a mobile phone both inside and outside hospital (p <0.01), but="" there="" was="" no="" gender="" association.="" eighty-six="" out="" of="" 102="" (84.3="" percent)="" patients'="" mobile="" phone="" swabs="" were="" positive="" for="" microbial="" contamination.="" twelve="" phones="" (11.8="" percent)="" grew="" bacteria="" known="" to="" cause="" nosocomial="" infection.="" seven="" phone="" (6.9="" percent)="" and="" 32="" nasal="" swabs="" (31.4="" percent)="" demonstrated="">Staphylococcus aureus contamination. MSSA/MRSA contamination of phones was associated with concomitant nasal colonization. Patient utilization of mobile phones in the clinical setting was popular and common.8

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Turkey to determine bacterial colonization on the mobile phones used by patients, patients' companions, visitors, and health care workers. Significantly higher rates of pathogens (39.6 percent versus 20.6 percent, respectively; P = .02) were found in mobile phones of patients' (n = 48) versus the health care workers (n = 12). There also were more multidrug pathogens in the patients' mobile phones, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, high-level aminoglycoside-resistantEnterococcus spp, and carabepenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumanii. Findings suggest that mobile phones of patients, patients' companions, and visitors represent higher risk for nosocomial pathogen colonization than those of HCWs. Specific infection control measures may be required for this threat.9

In Nigeria, there has been an increase in the use of mobile phones among the general population, and the use of phones is common in certain areas of the environment where the percentage presence of bacteria is likely high, such as in hospitals, in animal slaughter areas, and in toilets. A study was conducted to determine whether mobile phones could play a role in the spread of bacterial pathogens and to proffer possible control or preventive measures that could be instituted to avoid this likely vehicle of infection. In this study, 62 percent of 400 mobile phones from all of the study groups were found to be contaminated by bacterial agents.

Isolation of bacterial agents from electronic devices such as hand-held computers and personal digital assistants has shown these devices to be possible modes of transmission of nosocomial pathogens.10 In a study conducted in Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Barbados, West Indies, more than 40 percent of mobile phones of 266 medical staff and students were culture positive.11 Ulger, et al. reported that 94.5 percent of 200 health care workers and their mobile phones were contaminated with various microorganisms, including nosocomial pathogens, in a study conducted in New York and Israel.12

Nosocomial infection is an important problem in all modern hospitals. As early as 1861, Semmelweis demonstrated that bacteria were transmitted to patients by the contaminated hands of health care workers. Hospital operating rooms and intensive care units are the workplaces that need the highest hygiene standards, both for the personnel working there and the equipment used by them.13 Rusin, et al. had documented both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria in hand-to-mouth transfer during casual activities. This implies that mobile phones may serve as vehicles of transmission of diseases such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, boils, and abscesses.14 A study was conducted in Turkey to determine the contamination rate of health care workers' mobile phones and hands in operating rooms and ICUs. These results showed that HCWs' hands and their mobile phones were contaminated with various types of microorganisms.15

Dental Clinics
A cross-sectional study was conducted in India to determine the level and type of bacterial contamination of the mobile phones of dental personnel involved in direct patient care and to determine the usefulness of cleaning with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol for decontamination. Dental faculty and trainees in an Indian dental school were asked to participate in a study in which a questionnaire was administered concerning patterns of mobile phone use and disinfection. Swabs from mobile phones of the participants were taken using moist sterile swabs and plated on blood agar plates. The bacteria isolated were identified by biochemical tests.

Eighteen percent of the participants (n=9) reported using their phones while attending patients. Nearly 64 percent (n=32) used their mobiles for checking time, and 64 percent (n=42) reported never cleaning their phones. In total, 50 mobile phones were cultured for microorganisms: 98 percent (n=49) were culture-positive, and 34 percent (n=17) grew potentially pathogenic bacteria. There was significant reduction in the mean number of colony-forming units after decontamination with alcohol (p less than 0.001). The bacterial load was reduced by around 87 percent. The results of this study show that mobile phones may act as an important source of nosocomial pathogens in the dental setting. Therefore, it is important for dental school administrators to encourage higher compliance with hand-washing practices and routine surface disinfection through framing of strict protocols to reduce the chances of occurrence of nosocomial infections.16

Researchers conducted a pilot study to estimate the prevalence and type of microorganisms isolated from the mobile phones of 80 health care workers at a Thai hospital before and after alcohol cleansing. The surface of the phone’s keypad, mouthpiece, and earpiece was swabbed, and the phone was cleaned with a 70 percent alcohol pad. A second culture swab of the keypad, mouthpiece, and earpiece was obtained one minute later. The researchers reported that 38 participants (47.5 percent) had exposure to multidrug-resistant bacteria at enrollment in the study, and there was an average of two cases per house staff with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Three mobile phones (3.8 percent) had cultures positive for Acinetobacter spp. before alcohol cleaning. After alcohol cleansing, no microorganisms were detected. Overall hand hygiene compliance was 39 percent before touching a patient, 29.4 percent before a clean/aseptic procedure, and 47.5 percent after touching a patient’s surrounding. Although previous reports identified health care workers’ mobile phones as a reservoir for various multidrug-resistant bacteria, none had shown that alcohol cleansing can reduce the detection of bacteria on mobile phones.17

Creating a Policy
What we need is a sound and feasible policy with respect to mobile phone usage in hospital settings. Today mobile phones are important devices for both the professional and social lives of their users. However, restrictions on the use of mobile phones in certain areas of the environment where the percentage of bacteria present is likely high (such as in hospitals, dental clinics, lecture theatres, canteens, business centers, toilets, and other such places) are difficult and thus not a practical solution.

Users of mobile phone hence need to be advised to use antibacterial wipes to make their mobile phones germ free at all times. Also advocated is strict adherence to infection control and precautions such as hand washing and good hygienic practice among the users of mobile phones, to prevent the possibility of phones as vehicles of transmission of both hospital and community-acquired bacterial diseases.

Conclusion
Health professionals, from microbiologists, epidemiologists, doctors, and dentists to behavioral scientists and occupational health and safety consultants, need to take note of how and where we are using our cellphones, draft new guidelines and prevention tips, and help raise awareness about the health risks of using an unclean cell phone.

However, we recommend that patients and doctors be educated by clear guidelines and advised on inpatient mobile phone etiquette, regular cleaning of phones, hand hygiene, and advised not to share phones or related equipment with other inpatients in order to prevent transmission of bacteria.

Cellphones are now an extension of a person's lifestyle, accompanying them everywhere. Everyone should clean their cell phones -- but especially doctors, dentists, and nurses, whose hygiene impacts patients' well-being.

References
1. Kapdi M, Hoskote S, Joshi SR. Health hazards of mobile phones: an Indian perspective.JAPI 2008; 56:893-97.
2. Neubauer G, Röösli M, Feychting M, Hamnerius Y, Kheifets L, Kuster N, Ruiz I, Schüz J, Überbacher R., Wiart J (2005) Study on the Feasibility of Epidemiological. Studies on Health Effects of Mobile Telephone Base Stations -- Final Report: A workshop Organized by Swiss Research Foundation on Mobile Communication Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape Swiss Federal Office of Public Health FSM -- Project No. A2003-9.
3. Washington (2011). Study finds dangerous bacteria on cell phones of hospital based patients. Available from: http://www.elsevier.com/wps
4. Brady RR, Wasson A, Stirling I, McAllister C, Damani NN (2006). Is your phone bugged? The incidence of bacteria known to cause nosocomial infection in healthcare workers mobile phones. J Hosp Infect 62: 123-125
5. Srikanth P, Rajaram E, Sudharsanam S, Lakshmanan A, Mariappan U., Jagannathan K. Mobile phones: emerging threat for infection control. Journal of Infection Prevention May 2010 vol. 11 no. 3 87-90.
6. . Karabay O, Kocoglu E, Tahtaci M (2007) The role of mobile phone in the spread of bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. J. Infect. Develop. Countries. 1: 72-73.
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