The Role of Mobile Phones in Spreading MRSA and Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms: From Hands to Wards

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dc.contributor.authorMukul Mudgal
dc.contributor.authorMahesh Kumar Seth
dc.contributor.authorRituparna Saha
dc.contributor.authorAkriti Sharma
dc.contributor.authorSandhya Khunger
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-23T04:45:32Z
dc.date.available2026-07-23T04:45:32Z
dc.date.issued2025-10-30
dc.description.abstractBackground: Mobile phones are essential tools for healthcare workers (HCWs) but may act as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, contributing to hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Purpose: This study investigates bacterial contamination on HCWs’ mobile phones, their resistance patterns, and associated usage practices. Methods: A six-month cross-sectional study was conducted at SGT Hospital, Gurugram. A total of 120 mobile phones (100 HCWs, 20 non-HCWs) were swabbed from commonly touched areas. Samples were cultured on standard media, and isolates were identified by morphological and biochemical methods. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of Staphylococcus aureus was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. PCR assays targeting 16S rRNA and mecA genes were used for molecular confirmation of bacterial isolates and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). A structured questionnaire assessed participants’ mobile phone usage and hygiene practices. Results: Of the 120 phones, 95 (79.1%) showed bacterial contamination. Predominant isolates included diphtheroids (37.5%), S. aureus (27.5%), Micrococcus (26.6%), Bacillus (13.3%), and Acinetobacter (5.8%). Among 33 S. aureus isolates, 16 (48.5%) were MRSA by culture, while PCR confirmed 14 as mecA-positive. Resistance was highest to penicillin, erythromycin, and cefoxitin. Contamination correlated significantly with risk behaviors such as phone use in washrooms and lack of cleaning practices (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Mobile phones of HCWs are major reservoirs of MDR bacteria, particularly MRSA, posing a hidden risk of nosocomial transmission. Implementation of standardized phone-cleaning protocols and behavioral guidelines is essential to reduce device-mediated infection spread.
dc.identifier.issn2393-8536
dc.identifier.issn2393-8544
dc.identifier.otherhttps://doi.org/10.15415/jmrh.2025.112005
dc.identifier.urihttps://demodspace.chitkara.edu.in/handle/123456789/668
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherChitkara University Publications
dc.subjectMobile phones
dc.subjectHealthcare workers
dc.subjectMRSA
dc.subjectMultidrug-resistant bacteria
dc.subjectNosocomial infections
dc.titleThe Role of Mobile Phones in Spreading MRSA and Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms: From Hands to Wards
dc.typeArticle

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JMRH Vol. 11 No. 2 (June 2025)
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