Handheld hazards
The scientists searching for sanitary solutions following viral mobile phone study
A Bond University study profiling the microbes on travellers’ mobile phones went viral, with news organisations across the globe reporting the surprising findings. Looking at 20 mobiles phones of foreign delegates attending the World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA) conference in Sydney, the study uncovered new insights into phone hygiene. We spoke to Senior Research Assistant Dr Matthew Olsen about the research, what it means for phone users, and how we can keep our devices safe.
A harbour for microorganisms
The study found an astonishing 882 bacteria, 1229 viruses, 88 fungi and 5 protozoa or parasites across just 20 mobile phones. “I was extremely surprised,” Dr Olsen says. “I never expected protozoa would be on mobile phones.
“We can understand that mobile phones harbour almost every single microorganism that exists in some way, shape, or form but protozoa or parasites are particularly nasty and deadly. To find them on mobile phones is very interesting.”
There were also 65 antibiotic-resistant genes and 86 virulence factor genes — which allow microorganisms to adhere to surfaces to remain pathogenic and increase their chances of escaping the immune system.
Dr Olsen carried out the study alongside several other researchers including mentor and Bond Associate Professor of Genomics and Molecular Biology Dr Lotti Tajouri.
The pair first came together to research mobile phones for Dr Olsen's honours, and again to examine the way contaminated mobile phones act as Trojan horses for the dissemination of microorganisms for his PhD.
They originally worked with the Royal Australian College of GPs to assess how healthcare workers in Australian hospitals perceived their phones as a means of bypassing hand hygiene. Dr Olsen saw the WONCA conference as an opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the perceptions of doctors from different countries.
“We sampled their phones and asked them questions to gauge their views on novel technologies to clean their phones and mitigate the risks associated with microbial contamination” Dr Olsen says.
Spreading diseases
Infectious diseases are on the rise globally each year and Dr Olsen says scientists haven’t yet figured out solutions. “We saw during COVID it was quite hard to determine where exactly we got an infectious disease from,” he says. “We don't know exactly where these other sicknesses are coming from either.
“It’s possible these contaminated platforms we carry around could contribute to people getting sick more often. It’s something we really need to be investigating.”
Dr Olsen says the more research that is carried out on the implications of taking mobile phones everywhere, the more answers we will have around the rise in sickness. He says researchers already have a strong understanding of how diseases begin and what the required dose is for people to become sick.
“We want to understand how many bugs are on the phone, whether they are communicating with each other, if their resistance has changed, and if there’s anything the phone does differently to other surfaces,” he says. “We know phones heat up if used frequently, but there are so many other characteristics about a phone that enable the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. The more we understand that, the more we will know about the phone’s role in transmission of diseases.”
Spreading diseases
Infectious diseases are on the rise globally each year and Dr Olsen says scientists haven’t yet figured out solutions. “We saw during COVID it was quite hard to determine where exactly we got an infectious disease from,” he says. “We don't know exactly where these other sicknesses are coming from either.
“It’s possible these contaminated platforms we carry around could contribute to people getting sick more often. It’s something we really need to be investigating.”
Dr Olsen says the more research that is carried out on the implications of taking mobile phones everywhere, the more answers we will have around the rise in sickness. He says researchers already have a strong understanding of how diseases begin and what the required dose is for people to become sick.
“We want to understand how many bugs are on the phone, whether they are communicating with each other, if their resistance has changed, and if there’s anything the phone does differently to other surfaces,” he says. “We know phones heat up if used frequently, but there’s so many other characteristics about a phone that enable the perfect breeding ground for microorganisms. The more we understand that, the more we will know about the phone’s role in transmission of diseases.”
Finding solutions
More research is also needed to arrive at a viable and effective solution for the general public to regularly sanitise their phones. Dr Olsen says alcohol wipes might not do enough to eradicate the microbes on their surface. He’s investigating alternative methods including industrial-grade Ultraviolet C (UVC) technology, which works by projecting UVC radiation at a wavelength of 253.7 nanometres.
“At this wavelength, the radiation is absorbed by the microbes and destroys the DNA completely, which kills all the bugs and then, in some way, prevents bugs that are added to the phone from becoming more resistant,” Dr Olsen says.
“We’ve already published a few papers looking at this and we’ve been able to show how, with just a 10 second UVC sanitisation cycle on a robust system, all bacteria on a contaminated mobile phone can be destroyed, producing no laboratory-based growth on an agar plate.
“We’re aiming to roll out this research to hospitals to demonstrate when health professionals use a mobile phone in a high-risk setting, such as a surgical theatre or when working with an immunocompromised patient, they should be sanitising their phones with a UVC-based sanitiser that’s certified and verified.”
Dr Olsen and Dr Tajouri swabbing for microbes in the lab.
Dr Olsen and Dr Tajouri swabbing for microbes in the lab.
Dr Olsen believes certified UVC sanitisers will become more widely available in the coming years and says they should be prioritised where there are immunocompromised people or high risk of transmission, such as airports.
One of his main objectives is to encourage the World Health Organisation (WHO) to investigate the topic further.
“All of my research addresses Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations and can really make a difference in this world. If the WHO could open a discussion, then I think we would see companies that look at UVC gain momentum with this technology and have a greater impact on society.
“We could see sanitisers in shopping centres, for example, and greater attention and sensitivity when using phones in healthcare, childcare and food-handling settings.”
Being mindful
The WONCA study garnered national and international media attention and Dr Olsen believes the findings resonated with audiences so much because most people are highly attached to their phones.
Currently, there aren’t many affordable options for people searching for certified UVC sanitisers they can use at home. Dr Olsen explains it’s likely any devices marketed at affordable prices to the public aren’t going to achieve the desired result.
“People are searching for answers, which is fantastic, but we need more guidance and regulation from watchdogs,” he says.
“Once the technology matures, it will become cheaper, more robust, and hopefully it will be cost effective to have certified devices in homes.”
For the time being, Dr Olsen recommends people become more mindful of the environments in which they take their phones. He says people should be leaving phones behind when using the toilet, preparing food, visiting grandparents, or if working in a laboratory.
The researchers from Bond University have further trials planned around UVC and optimal rates of sanitisation.
Learning from the past
Dr Olsen says the idea of sanitising hands was popularised in modern times by Ignaz Semmelweis, known as ‘the father of hand hygiene’. During the 1800s, the Hungarian physician discovered infections were being carried from one ward to another in the hospital where he was working. He realised the healthcare providers were transmitting infectious diseases via their hands.
“He found if they could get their hands in chlorine before leaving each room, they could prevent the transmission,” says Dr Olsen.
“Our research is taking a subsequent approach of identifying something like a mobile that is heavily contaminated beyond any surface encountered before, and trying to intervene before we see widespread transmission of infectious diseases.”
Dr Olsen stepped into Dr Semmelweis’ shoes when writing his PhD.
“On the last page I had an image of Semmelweis and explained if he was alive today, he would be telling us to sanitise our phones because, in a way, they’ve become a third hand,” says Dr Olsen.
Published on 11 December, 2024
Original thinking direct to your inbox
Stories from Bond