Dirty phone calls - Short takes: news at deadline - Column

Physician Executive, Nov-Dec, 2003 by James A. Hawkins

Could your doctor's cell phone be transmitting more than voice and data messages?

New studies suggest they could also be spreading dangerous bacteria, as well. One study tested cell phones used by health care workers in an Israeli hospital and found 12 percent contaminated with potentially harmful germs. The Israeli hospital has now banned the cell phones.

Another study found that EKG wiring could be carrying dangerous germs as well. Despite following standard disinfection procedures, researchers found that 9 out of 50 wiring units were contaminated with vancomycin-resistant enterococci bacteria and other drug resistant germs.

Given that as many as one in 20 patients--and perhaps as many as one in five ICU patients--get hospital-acquired infections, every potential infection source needs to be examined.

--James A. Hawkins is a health care writer based in Aiken, S.C. He can be reached by phone at (803)414-2062 or by e-mail at hir@ix.netcom.com.