Yikes! Hospital staff phones carry pathogenic viruses

ESCMID, the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, has published findings that show viral RNA is carried on the mobile devices of hospital staff, potentially exposing patients to infection.

Researchers tested the mobile phones and hospital cordless phones used by a selection of 114 healthcare workers. The presence of RNA from viruses such as influenza A and B, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, rotavirus and norovirus were found on 38.5% of phones.

While the majority of the healthcare staff (64 %) admitted to using their phones during work, 20% said they never carried out hand hygiene procedures before or after using their devices.