title: Colonization of personal digital assistants carried by healthcare professionals.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassoun
authors.forename: Ernestine M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vellozzi
authors.forename: Miriam A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: 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