title: Evaluation of Cellular Phones for Potential Risk of Nosocomial Infection amongst Dental Operators and Auxiliary Staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study evaluates cellular phones for potential risk of nosocomial infection amongst dental operators and auxiliary staff in a dental school.
  
  
  METHODS
  Each participant's mobile phone was first cleaned with 70% isopropyl alcohol swab. Following the cleansing protocol, the partakers were asked to make a short phone call. The mobile phones were then washed aseptically by rotating damp cotton swabs with sterile normal saline. Bacterial growth was identified on sheep blood agar and McConkey's agar plates. Sabouraud dextrose agar media was used for fungi species. Descriptive statistics was established with the data statistically explored with SPSS version 17.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About 50% of dental professionals had shown active bacterial and fungal growth in which 35% (n=35) were dental operators and 15% (n=15) were dental nurses. 53% Gram-positive organisms, 2% Gram-negative organisms, and 3% fungi were identified growths on cellular phones.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, it can be concluded that the cellular phones of dental operators as compared to auxiliaries can act as a potential source of nosocomial infection.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Pedodontics, King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Nasim
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, King Khalid University, College of Medicine, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hakami
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Division of Pedodontics, King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Nadeem Ahmed
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Bijle
authors.affiliation: Intern, King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sulthan Ahmed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Al-Manea
authors.affiliation: Intern, King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Dahman
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Al-Shehri
authors.affiliation: Intern, King Khalid University, College of Dentistry, Abha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saleh Mohammed
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Al-Malki
keywords: Dentists; dental auxiliary; infectious disease transmission; nosocomial infection