Most of the disease causing bacteria and germs are transferred from person to person through touch
Mobile phones are always in close contact with the human body, accumulating bacteria and germs
A typical mobile phone can have as many as 25,000 germs per square inch. Needless to say, this all-important gadget in our lives is also a major source of diseases. Like we clean our other belongings, it is imperative that we clean our phones regularly to avoid diseases.
Warmth of the phone helps germs to breathe
Mobile phones are always in close contact with the human body, accumulating bacteria and germs. As they are not cleaned or disinfected, they become vehicles of transmission of organisms. Bacteria and germs that are most commonly carried through mobile phones are Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, E.Coli, Acinetabacter, Klebisella and Influenza.
Most of the disease causing bacteria and germs are transferred from person to person through touch. So every time a person touches his phone the germs are transferred to the phone and keep building up, thus making mobile phones carriers of bacteria and germs.
Dr Pramati Reddy, consultant general physician at Apollo Hospitals explains, “Bacteria found in mouth and upper respiratory tract also spread through aerosoles and droplets that are released while breathing and talking. Also due to frequent usage, the phone surface remains hot, leading to sweating and transfer of bacteria from the body to the individual. The warmth of the phone is a favourable medium for growth and multiplication of various organisms.”
Common infections seen in the hospital sector are skin infections, acne, pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and flu.
Common phones require extra care
Recent studies have shown that 88 per cent of the study participants never cleaned their mobile phones. In fact most were not even aware that cleaning phone is important. This is seen as a major handicap as it is used so frequently that it can lead to the spread of various diseases.
Dr Rahul Agarwal, general physician at Maxcure Hospitals said, “The highest risk of infections has been found in hospital-owned mobile phones. As these are shared among employees from shift to shift and require proper means of disinfection to ensure that there is no spread of diseases.”
Common phones used in call centers, emergency lines and also by 24x7 calling facilities require that there must be strict guidelines for disinfection and sterilisation. Dr Agarwal added, “These are non-critical environmental surfaces which pose the risk of secondary infection transmission. Research has shown that mobile devices are considered as one of the largest contaminants and carriers to spread diseases.”
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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