The Hidden Risks Lurking on Your Smartphone: Hygienic Practices

With over 17.1 million smartphone users in the UAE, it is safe to assume that most individuals carry their mobile devices virtually everywhere. However, despite this constant companionship, many do not think about cleaning phones regularly.

Phones Carry More Bacteria than Toilet Seats:

A recent study at the University of Arizona revealed that mobile phones carry ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Supporting this revelation, doctors in the UAE highlighted cell phones as high-touch surfaces vulnerable to contamination in multiple hotspots, such as in bathrooms and food-contact surfaces.

Despite the high usage percentages of mobile phones in the country, which is by far the highest in the region, most people do not know that phones are potential vectors for the transmission of infections.

Hygiene Practices in Abu Dhabi:

Residents in Abu Dhabi, randomly sampled between May and June 2021, were found to be hygienic about mobile phones. 

According to the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), an open-access scientific journal, swab samples from participants’ mobile phones were collected and sent to the microbiology laboratory for bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility tests.

The Role of Better Hand Hygiene in Infection Prevention:

Healthcare professionals have explained that human skin, wallets, bags, and even shisha, particularly prevalent in Arab countries, serve as significant sources of contamination for mobile phones.

 However, implementing better hand hygiene practices and regularly cleaning phones could prevent approximately 800,000 to 180,000 infections.

Expert Insights and Recommendations:

Dr. Nashwa Elsammak, consultant internal Medicine Prime Medical Centre AlBarari Branch, emphasized the importance of understanding the risks associated with contaminated cell phones and provided practical tips for maintaining hygiene. 

This includes regular handwashing, wiping phones with clean, damp microfiber cloths and disinfectant wipes, and cleaning phones with alcohol and water at least once a week.