Key points
- Healthcare workers’ mobile phones were found to carry multiple drug-resistant bacteria linked to serious global infections.
- DNA analysis identified pathogenic and hospital-associated microbes on phones used in Australian and UAE hospitals.
- Findings suggest phones may act as reservoirs for antimicrobial resistance, reinforcing stricter hygiene controls in clinical settings.
The largest study of its kind has found hospital workers’ phones are carrying the same superbugs that kill millions of people worldwide every year.
An international team of researchers including several from Bond University analysed DNA samples from 95 mobile phones belonging to healthcare workers in Australian and UAE hospitals.
They identified bacterial species responsible for a significant proportion of the 13.7 million deaths caused by bacterial infections in 2019 alone.
On average, each phone carried 3.62 species from the 10 bacteria associated with the highest global mortality rates.
These included Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, all designated priority pathogens by the World Health Organization.
The scientists used a cutting-edge technique called metagenomics to scan the raw DNA on the phones, identifying not only the bacteria themselves but also the genes they carry that can shield them from drugs.
This revealed that phones also harboured the genetic “toolkit” bacteria use to share and acquire antibiotic resistance traits, raising the possibility that the devices may act as reservoirs for hard-to-treat infections.
The research team coined the term “phonome” to describe this microbial ecosystem, referring to the complex communities of bacteria and disease-causing genes found on mobile phones.
While the study did not examine direct transmission of infection, the findings point to a potential cross-contamination pathway that is currently under-recognised in clinical settings.
Despite this risk, mobile phones are rarely included in routine hospital disinfection protocols, creating what researchers describe as a blind spot in infection control that may undermine strict hand hygiene practices.
The phone samples were primarily collected from emergency departments and paediatric wards, including some from neonatal and paediatric intensive care units.
One of the study’s authors, Dr Lotti Tajouri of Bond University, said hospitals risk overlooking a critical vector in infection control.
“Hospitals place a strong emphasis on hand hygiene, but mobile phones are often overlooked despite being handled constantly in clinical settings,” Dr Tajouri said.
“These devices move between wards, patient areas and personal spaces, yet they are rarely disinfected as part of routine infection-control practices.”
He said simple measures such as regular phone disinfection protocols, could become an additional tool in reducing the spread of hospital-acquired infections.
Another author, Dr Adrian Goldsworthy, said that while the study does not demonstrate direct transmission via mobile phones, it highlights an important and previously underappreciated contamination pathway.
To put the broader burden into context, hospital-acquired infections in Europe alone account for more than 25 million additional hospital bed days each year, costing between 13 and 24 billion euros.
The findings were published in the journal MicrobiologyOpen.
Factbox
Four dangerous bacteria found on hospital workers’ phones.
Staphylococcus aureus
Commonly found on skin and in noses but dangerous when it enters wounds, blood, lungs or surgical sites. It can cause sepsis, pneumonia and life-threatening bloodstream infections. Drug-resistant strains such as MRSA are a major global hospital problem.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Particularly dangerous for people in intensive care, burn units or those with weakened immune systems. It can infect the lungs, blood, urinary tract and wounds, and is notorious for resisting multiple antibiotics. It is one of the hardest hospital pathogens to treat.
Klebsiella pneumoniae
A major cause of pneumonia, bloodstream infections and urinary tract infections in hospitals. Some strains produce enzymes that neutralise powerful antibiotics, including carbapenems, which are often considered last-resort drugs.
Escherichia coli
Usually harmless in the gut, but certain strains can cause severe food poisoning, urinary tract infections, kidney infections and sepsis. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli is an increasing concern globally.