Pediatric Infectious Diseases: Open Access

Editorial

Child mortality is a challenging problem and in 2015, approximately 5.9 million children under the age of 5 years died worldwide. One of the major cause of death being infections such as sepsis, pneumonia, tetanus and diarrhea [1]. The death toll is even higher in developing countries such as India, where over 20% of the world's under-five deaths occur [1]. More than half of these child deaths are preventable by controlling the transmission of the infectious agents [2].

With the advance in technology, there are very few people without a mobile phone or related gadgets such as tablet, iPhone, iPad, etc. These electronic items come into contact with aerosols generated in mouth and washrooms, cluttered bags and other unclean surfaces [3]. Given the heat generated by these gadgets, temperatures are favorable for microbial growth; as a result these gadgets become a prime location for rapid microbial growth and colonization [4]. An average cell phone device is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat and the bottom of a shoe [5]. Even the nosocomial contamination of phone can be life threatening for the individual with a weakened immune system [6].

Anuradha et al. showed that there is less awareness regarding mobile phone contamination in among both urban and rural communities [7]. The mobile phones of parents have been reported to have microbial contamination [8]; when infants and toddlers grab glowing screens of smart phones and tablets and stick them straight into their mouths, allows the microorganisms enter the body. Though, this may help in developing the immune system, it may also lead to more serious illnesses in susceptible children [8].

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Micrococcus are the most common mobile phone contaminants; while pathogenic bacteria such as methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA & MRSA), Acinetobacter species, and Pseudomonas species can range upto 31%. This microbial profile varies with the geographical setting, but almost all studies have shown the existence of pathogenic microbes that can make children sick [7-9].

Though, antimicrobial drugs can save lives, it would be wrong to assume that all infections have to be treated with these drugs. For example, antibiotics are ineffective against the viral infections such as common cold, a cough, flu, most sore throats, bronchitis and sinus/ear infections. Antimicrobial drugs kill pathogenic and nonpathogenic microorganisms indiscriminately, but the misuse and overuse of these drugs will promote the emergence of multi-drug resistant strains that can further complicate illnesses [9]. Furthermore, consumption of antibiotics in early childhood can cause lifelong changes to gut bacteria, metabolism, and the immune system which causes problems such as obesity, diabetes, asthma, allergies, autism and inflammatory bowel disease [10].

There are no proper guidelines for care, cleaning and usage of the mobile phones or related gadgets. Though, it is difficult to keep the devices germs free, some simple measures such as proper hand hygiene practices and regular decontamination of the mobile phones with alcohol wipes may help reduce the risk of transmission of detrimental bacterial agents [3,6]. Avoiding the use of mobile phone while being with infants, kids, and washing the hand after use of mobile phones may help control the possible risk and transmission of infection to little ones.

References

1. Bassani DG, Kumar R, Awasthi S, Morris SK, Paul VK, et al. (2010) Causes of neonatal and child mortality in India: a nationally representative mortality survey. Lancet 376: 1853-1860.
2. Anon (2014) Hygiene and infection control advice in the home. Health Protection & Public Health. Available from: https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Publications/HealthProtection/Hygiene%20and%20infection%20control%20advice%20in%20the%20home.pdf (Accessed on 11 Sep. 2017).
3. Brady RR, Verran J, Damani NN, et al. (2009) Review of mobile communication devices as potential reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens. J Hosp Infect 71: 295-300.
4. Walia SS, Manchanda A, Narang RS, N A, Singh B, et al. (2014) Cellular telephone as reservoir of bacterial contamination: myth or fact. J Clin Diagn Res 8: 50-53.
5. Abrams A (2017) Your cell phone is 10 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Here's what to do about it. TIME Health. Available from https://time.com/4908654/cell-phone-bacteria/ (Accessed on 10 Sep. 2017)
6. Ramos SR (2014) Toys from hospital playrooms as a source of pathogens in nosocomial infections. Rev Paul Pediatr 32: 149-150.
7. Anuradha SN,  Kumar SA, Mekhanayakee, Shyen WY, Rao A (2016) Study on awareness of microbial contamination through mobile phones. Asian Pac J Health Sci 3: 313-323
8. Beckstrom AC, Cleman PE, Kamitsuka MD, et al. (2013) Surveillance study of bacterial contamination of the parent's cell phone in the NICU and the effectiveness of an anti-microbial gel in reducing transmission to the hands. J Perinatol 33: 960-963.
9. Kalal BS, Nagaraj S (2016) Urinary tract infections: a retrospective, descriptive study of causative organisms and antimicrobial pattern of samples received for culture, from a tertiary care setting. Germs 6: 132-138.
10. Dietert RR, Dietert JM (2015) The microbiome and sustainable healthcare. Healthcare (Basel). 3: 100-129.