1. Hazardous Mobile Devices …Or, When a COMPUTER Virus is the least of your concerns June 19, 2013

2. Articles In several search attempts, I found only 1 article in the past 2 years (since Jan 2011) that references the spread of disease via mobile devices: Tagoe D N, Gyande V K, Ansah E O. Bacterial Contamination of Mobile Phones: When Your Mobile Phone Could Transmit More Than Just a Call. WebmedCentral MICROBIOLOGY 2011;2(10):WMC002294, http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_vi ew/2294 http://www.webmedcentral.com/article_vi ew/2294

3. Background Mobile phones have become one of the most indispensable accessories of professional and social life. However, several researchers have indicated the potential colonization of surfaces and their ability to transmit diseases (fomites) of which the mobile phone is no exception.

4. Methodology Surfaces of 100 mobile phones of randomly selected university students were aseptically swabbed.

5. Results There was 100% contamination of all the mobile phones surfaces by 11 different bacteria, including: – Bacillus cereus – Proteus mirabilis – Salmonella spp. – Shigella. spp. – Escherichia coli

6. Study Conclusion Mobile phones can be heavily colonized by high quantities of pathogenic bacteria and thus are potential sources of disease transmission requiring application of sound personal hygiene as preventive methods.

7. Why Is This a Problem? A 2011 study found that 4 out of 5 physicians regularly use mobile devices for medical purposes – Jackson & Coker Research Associates. Special Report: Apps, Doctors, and Digital Devices. Jackson & Coker Industry Report; Volume 4, Number 7. September 2011. http://industryreport.jacksoncoker.co m//physician-career- resources/newsletters/monthlymain/d es/Apps.aspx http://industryreport.jacksoncoker.co m//physician-career- resources/newsletters/monthlymain/d es/Apps.aspx

8. Our Take-away Use of mobile devices in medical settings is potentially a hazard to patients and providers, alike. Awareness of both providers and patients needs to be raised, with the following caveats: – Avoid creating panic while elevating visibility of this issue. – Provide reasonable prophylactic procedures to reduce the possibility that infectious agents will be transferred from – or to – mobile devices in medical settings.