Colonization of personal digital assistants carried by healthcare professionals.
This study evaluated personal digital assistant (PDA) microbial colonization before and after cleaning with alcohol. Samples from 75 PDAs were processed. Before cleaning, 96% of the samples were culture positive. After cleaning, 75% became culture negative. PDAs cleaned with an alcohol swab demonstrated significant reduction in colonization.
Hassoun
Ali
A
Division of Infectious Diseases, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, USA.
Vellozzi
Ernestine M
EM
Smith
Miriam A
MA
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D034201:Computers, Handheld / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000379:methods; D009518:New York; D011446:Prospective Studies