Cross Infection
Conditions
Keywords
cross infection, high touch surfaces, cellphone, disinfection, isopropyl alcohol, UVC
Brief summary
Cell phones have become a fundamental accessory of our lives and clinical practice, often kept in contact with the body. Since most modern smartphones are equipped with touch screens, they can serve the function of reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms; moreover, they can be the means of transmission of such microorganisms from the environment to humans. A number of observational studies are available in the literature evaluating the effectiveness of various sanitization methods in reducing the bacterial load of high-touch devices, both chemical and physical. To our knowledge, no real-world evidence is available comparing the residual effect of the two methods on the bacterial load of cell phones, since all available studies are carried out in the laboratory, with inoculums of predetermined bacterial loads whose suppression by the disinfectant is monitored over time, and involve laptops, tablets and keyboards.
Interventions
DEVICEisopropyl alcohol wipes
cellphones will be sanitised with isopropyl alcohol wipes and total bacterial load will be assessed immediately before sanitation, immediately after sanitation and 3 hours after sanitation.
DEVICEUVC box
cellphones will be sanitised in a UVC box and total bacterial load will be assessed immediately before sanitation, immediately after sanitation and 3 hours after sanitation.
Sponsors
Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Be a healthcare provider in the departments of Neonatology, Geriatric Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Anesthesia, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Unit at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS * Own a smartphone * Carry one's smartphone for the duration of the work shift (8 hours) * Give consent to participate in the study * Be willing to report 3 hours after sanitisation for follow-up sampling
Exclusion criteria
* Not to be a healthcare worker in the departments of Neonatology, Geriatric Internal Medicine, Nephrology, Anesthesia, Resuscitation, Intensive Care Unit at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A.Gemelli IRCCS * Not to be on work shift during surveys * Not to carry one's smartphone for the duration of the work shift (8 hours) * Not to give consent to participate in the study * Not to be willing to report 3 hours after sanitisation for follow-up sampling
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Average total bacterial load at 3 hours after sanitization | Samples will be collected immediately before and immediately after sanitisation and 3 hours after sanitisation. | The primary objective of the pilot study is to obtain preliminary data on the average total bacterial load at 3 hours after the sanitization intervention (70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or UVC box). These data will allow appropriate sizing of a subsequent trial to evaluate whether, on the cell phones of health care workers at the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, wipes impregnated with 70% isopropyl alcohol are more effective than UVC ray boxes in reducing total bacterial load at 3 hours after sanitization for both isopropyl alcohol wipes and UVC box |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the average total bacterial load at 3 hours after sanitization | Samples will be collected immediately before and immediately after sanitisation and 3 hours after sanitisation | Explore the change in the average total bacterial load at 3 hours after sanitization interventions compared with the value recorded before sanitisation for both isopropyl alcohol wipes and UVC box. |
Countries
Italy
Outcome results
None listed