Harmful germs thrive on cell phones

Mobile phones provide a fast way to share news and information needed on the job in a timely manner. They also expose people using them to disease-bearing bacteria.
Researchers in Turkey found that harmful bacteria, including methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) had contaminated 95 percent of the phones of doctors and nurses working in hospitals. Their research also uncovered the fact that  only 10 percent of the staff regularly cleaned their phones.

“Our results suggest cross-contamination of bacteria between the hands of health care workers and their mobile phones. These mobile phones could act as a reservoir of infection which may facilitate patient-to-patient transmission of bacteria in a hospital setting,” the authors wrote in their study, published online in the Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials.

The study involved 200 healthcare workers, 200 samples that were taken from their hands and from the mobile phone they used.

Other electronic objects such as computer keyboards have been examined in previous studies. They did show a high rate of contamination by bacteria, but almost no presence of the methicillin-resident (MRSA) bacteria that was prevalent on the hand-held phones.

Why are mobile phones more likely to have MRSA bacteria than stationary objects such as computers or desktops? The authors suggested that mobile phones are ideal for spreading the germs because every phone call puts the device in physical contact with hands that may be contaminated. The germs are rapidly carried by the hands to the mouth, nose, ears, and other body parts and then shared with patients or others that come in contact with the worker.

Some ways to reduce the spread of MRSA and other bacteria-caused disease by mobile phone use, especially in healthcare facilities, include the following:

• Observing strict infection-control procedures
• Setting up a schedule for routinely decontaminating all mobile phones with alcohol containing disinfectants
• Habitual use of regular cleaning agents

Prevention is on the horizon. Telephones may be manufactured soon containing special additive materials that would destroy any harmful bacteria.

As is often the case, common sense works best. Wash hands with soap and water. Disinfect with an alcohol-based material. Wipe off telephones with a cloth dampened in an antisceptic solution. And do it on a scheduled basis, several times a day.

Brought to you by Griffith Publishing.

Stress in hard times at your business

stressed pit

Stress levels are high during this time of economic uncertainty—and not just for those who have found themselves without a job.

Your employees who are worried about the possibility of losing their job may be saving every possible dollar they would otherwise spend on their own health care. Their health could be in jeopardy as a result. A recent survey of 800 working adults aged forty-five or more found the following disturbing facts about these high-risk workers:

• One in five have put off seeing a doctor because of the cost.
• One in five have cut back on other expenses so they could afford medical care.
• One in five reported health problems from financial stress.
• Almost one in five (16 percent) are using retirement or other savings to pay for their medical care.

The survey was conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). An online survey conducted earlier this year for the employment agency, Adecco USA, found that stress is common among job-holding adults. Of the 1,068 employed adults surveyed, 215 said that their mental health had been negatively impacted by the current economic situation, and 359 reported higher levels of stress on the job.

“There’s certainly been a pretty severe increase in stress, and stress is a precursor to anxiety and panic,” Dr. Elisha Goldstein, a Los Angeles-based psychologist who specializes in stress issues, told a Reuters reporter.

When stress and anxiety begin to make inroads on employee morale, effective work is sacrificed. “It starts to become a downward spiral, where an economic recession starts to become more of an emotional and mental recession,” Goldstein said.

Depression is not far behind.

Experts agree on two ways that employers can build a healthier emotional climate on the job:

1. Show appreciation. “People will walk over miles of razor blades in bare feet for you if they know you appreciate them and tell them,” says Canadian motivational speaker Mike Moore. You won’t want to run a study to validate that claim, but you can find dozens of ways to let your employees know that you value their loyalty and dedication.
2. Be open. A quick route to handling stress at work is for top management to be open and honest about what is going on. Managers who are visible are valuable in defusing this kind of stress, according to Bernadette Kenny, chief career officer at Adecco USA, which commissioned the mental health survey.