Covid-19: Mobile phones potential carrier of coronavirus, hospitals should restrict their use

A gaggle of medical doctors from the AIIMS, Raipur has really helpful restrictions on use of cellphones in healthcare establishments amid the COVID-19 pandemic, warning that such units could be a potential provider of the virus and result in an infection amongst healthcare staff.

In a commentary revealed within the BMJ Global Health journal, the medical doctors acknowledged that cell phone surfaces are a peculiar ‘high-risk’ floor, which might instantly are available contact with the face or mouth, even when arms are correctly washed and one examine signifies that some healthcare staff use telephones each 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Though there have been many vital tips from varied well being organisations just like the WHO and CDC specializing in prevention and management of illness, the commentary highlighted “there is no mention of or focus on mobile phones in these guidelines, including the WHO infection control and prevention guidelines, which recommends the use of hand washing”.

In healthcare services, telephones are used to speak with different well being care staff, lookup current medical tips, analysis drug interactions, perceive opposed occasions and unintended effects, conduct telemedicine appointments and observe sufferers amongst others, acknowledged the doc.

The doc has been authored by Dr Vineet Kumar Pathak, Dr Sunil Kumar Panigrahi, Dr M Mohan Kumar, Dr Utsav Raj and Dr Karpaga Priya P from the Department of Community and Family Medicine.

“In their tendency to come in direct contact with the face, nose or eyes in healthcare settings, mobile phones are perhaps second only to masks, caps or goggles,” the authors stated.

“However, they are neither disposable nor washable like these other three, thus warranting disinfection. Mobile phones can effectively negate hand hygiene… There is growing evidence that mobile phones are a potential vector for pathogenic organisms,” they stated.

It is the necessity of the hour to deal with correct hygienic use of cellphones in healthcare settings. In a examine in India, virtually 100 per cent of well being staff of a tertiary care hospital used cellphones within the hospital, however solely 10 per cent of them had at any time wiped their cellphones clear, the commentary revealed on April 22 stated.

“The safest thing to do is to consider your phone as an extension of your hand, so remember you are transferring whatever is on your phone to your hand,” Dr Pathak stated.

Amidst the continued pandemic, two largest cell phone corporations have uploaded their consumer assist tips, saying that 70 computer isopropyl alcohol or Clorox Disinfecting Wipes can be utilized to softly wipe the outside floor of telephones in switched-off mode.

However, in doing so, the usage of bleach or entry of moisture by means of any of the openings should be averted, and any harsh chemical might harm the oleophobic display, main to break within the contact display sensitivity of the cellphone, the article acknowledged.

Mobile telephones are one of the extremely touched surfaces in response to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), together with counters, tabletops, doorknobs, toilet fixtures, bogs, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables.

The medical doctors really helpful restriction on cell phone utilization in healthcare settings like hospital wards, ICUs and operation theatres, whereas advocating use of headphones to stop contact with the face whereas speaking. There ought to be no sharing of cellphones, headphones or headsets of any variety. In addition, the place accessible, the usage of interdepartmental intercom facility could also be promoted. “Although hand hygiene and mobile phone use by a person are not mutually exclusive, it is high time to acknowledge the potential role of mobile phones in disease transmission cascade and to take evidence-based appropriate actions. This is especially important, given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic,” the authors stated.

They stated it’s vital for presidency companies and the WHO to generate public consciousness and to formulate appropriate info, training and communication materials on cell phone hygiene, particularly in healthcare settings.

AIIMS, New Delhi, Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) General Secretary, Dr Srinivas Rajkumar T stated even outdoors well being care settings, folks ought to pay particular consideration to utilization of cellphones as they carry them to all locations.

“Phone and computer peripherals like keyboard, mouse, etc. should be covered with transparent plastic covers which can be cleaned without interfering with their function. Cleaning hands by soap or alcohol based hand sanitizer before and after contact with phone and between contact with other surfaces can decrease the risk of potential transmission.

“Using handsfree headset, dedicated operator/assistant per ward handling the communication via common line in hospitals while on duty can enable communication without compromising safety,” Dr Srinivas stated.

(This story has been revealed from a wire company feed with out modifications to the textual content. Only the headline has been modified. )

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