Bacterial contamination of cellular phones at a Veterinary School and Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Cellular phones have become an integral part of not only modern-day life but also Veterinary Medicine. They provide clinicians with quick access to reference material, laboratory results, and patient side consults. However, these phones may also act as fomites and be a source of Hospital-acquired infections. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of cellular phones in the dissemination of foodborne pathogens and other pathogenic organisms. Using Escherichia coli and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus as indicator organisms for pathogenic bacteria, cellular phones belonging to students and staff at a Veterinary School and a Veterinary Teaching Hospital were assessed. Overall less than 1% (1/115) of cellular phones tested positive for E. coli. However, 21% (24/115) of the phones were contaminated with the highly pathogenic coagulasepositive Staphylococcus aureus. The majority of phones testing for positive for of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus (15/24) belonged to persons working in a clinical environment. The low contamination rate of phones with E. coli indicates phones are not a major vehicle for the dissemination of foodborne pathogens. However, the higher incidence of Staphylococcus aureus contamination should of critical concern since these phones may be acting as fomites for the dissemination of other pathogens. These results highlight the need for proper cellular phone use and disinfection protocols to be implemented in hospital settings to reduce potential transmission pathogens.