Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-2014

Abstract

It's now a common practice for hospital-owned mobile phones to be shared among healthcare employees from shift to shift. Despite the benefit of increased, timely communication between caregivers, sharing mobile devices can lead to the spread of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) if they aren't properly disinfected. The Guidelines for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities describe "non-critical environmental surfaces" as items that are frequently touched by the hand and may pose a risk of secondary infection transmission.

Comments

Adapted and updated from Basol R, Beckel J, Gilsdorf-Gracie J, et al. You missed a spot! Disinfecting shared mobile phones. Nurs Manage. 2013;44(7):16-18

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