title: Use of portable electronic devices in a hospital setting and their potential for bacterial colonization.
abstract: Portable electronic devices are increasingly being used in the hospital setting. As with other fomites, these devices represent a potential reservoir for the transmission of pathogens. We conducted a convenience sampling of devices in 2 large medical centers to identify bacterial colonization rates and potential risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI; School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: amkha@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care Medicine, Michael E Debakey Veteran's Administration Medical Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Amitha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama, Montgomery, AL.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reyes-Sacin
authors.affiliation: Disease Control and Prevention Center, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Medical Education, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szpunar
authors.affiliation: Department of Graduate Medical Education, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Riederer
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, St John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Joel T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fishbain
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI; School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D050456:Fomites; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D063731:Mobile Applications
keywords: Contamination; Mobile electronic devices