‘A real public health risk’: Study cites mobile phones as ‘Trojan horse’ in infection control

Press/Media: Expert Comment

Description

Using swabs and DNA extraction, new research claims to have uncovered the fullest picture yet of the microbes found on mobile phones, with big implications for healthcare workers.

Subject

Infection control

Mobile phone as fomite

Antimicrobial resistance

Period17 Jun 2022

Media contributions

1

Media contributions

  • Titlehttps://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/a-real-public-health-risk-study-cites-mobile-phone?utm_source=racgpnewsgpnewsletter&utm_campaign=newsgpedm&utm_medium=email
    Degree of recognitionNational
    Media name/outletNews GP
    Media typeWeb
    Country/TerritoryAustralia
    Date17/06/22
    DescriptionUsing swabs and DNA extraction, new research claims to have uncovered the fullest picture yet of the microbes found on mobile phones, with big implications for healthcare workers.

    Its authors, who include Professor Mark Morgan, Chair of RACGP Expert Committee–Quality Care (REC–QC), believe the findings could have serious implications for healthcare workers’ infection control, including in general practice, and the wider community.


    The lead author is Lotti Tajouri, an Associate Professor of Genomics and Molecular Biology at Bond University.

    He told newsGP the methodology, which included DNA extraction and next generation sequencing, has given more detail of what the ubiquitous devices are harbouring than ever before.
    Producer/AuthorJolyon Attwooll
    URLhttps://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/a-real-public-health-risk-study-cites-mobile-phone?utm_source=racgpnewsgpnewsletter&utm_campaign=newsgpedm&utm_medium=email
    PersonsLotti Tajouri, Mark Morgan
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