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Margaret Lubwama,1 David P Kateete,2 Kirabo Tess Ayazika,1 Winnie Nalwanga,1 Douglas Bruno Kagambo,1 Mayanja David Nsubuga,1 Arnold Kingston Arach,1 Leoson Junior Ssetaba,1 Joyce N Wamala,3 Leah Amaro Rwot,3 Henry Kajumbula1 1Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 2Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; 3Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, UgandaCorrespondence: Margaret LubwamaDepartment of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P. O. Box 7072, Kampala, UgandaTel +256774440332Email margaret.lubwama@mak.ac.ugIntroduction: Contaminated mobile phones act as reservoirs for organisms causing hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Little is known about medical school students’ awareness of infection prevention and control (IPC) regarding mobile phone use among medical students. We demonstrated the presence of organisms on mobile phones of final-year medical students at Makerere University College of Health Sciences and evaluated their awareness of IPC regarding mobile phone hygiene and use in a hospital setting.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, organisms from swabs obtained from 79 medical students’ mobile phones were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility test carried out using standard biochemical tests and the automated BD Phoenix instrument. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire to assess the students’ awareness. The analysis was carried out using STATA software version 16.Results: Seventy (88.6%) mobile phones were contaminated with at least one organism. One hundred forty-eight bacteria were isolated, of which 123 (83.1%) were Gram-positive, 24 (16.2%) were Gram-negative, and 1 (0.7%) was yeast (Candida spp). Coagulase negative staphylococci were the most frequently isolated among Gram-positive bacteria. Acinetobacter baumannii were the most frequently isolated among Gram-negative bacteria. The average IPC practical score regarding mobile phone hygiene (34%) was significantly lower than the average IPC awareness score (77%) (p ≤ 0.0001). Seventy-four (93.7%) students use their phones while rotating in the various wards. Forty (50.6%) of the students cleaned their phones with alcohol-based sanitizer after rotations in the ward. Thirty-five (44.3%) students were aware of IPC programs in the hospital they rotated in.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of bacterial contamination from mobile phones of medical students. The students had lower IPC practical scores compared to IPC awareness scores regarding mobile phone hygiene irrespective of the ward of rotation. Curriculum of final-year medical students should include IPC-related topics, which incorporate practical skills.Keywords: infection prevention and control, mobile phone contamination, medical students, Uganda

• E. Coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus exhibited a (log1) decline within the first hour. • Bacteria remain viable on mobile phones for at least 6 hours. • Many bacteria associated with HAI were detected at 28 days in low numbers. • The most successful pathogenic bacteria to remain viable at the 28 day was B. cereus. • A rapid viability decline was seen in MSSA within the first 6 hours compared to MRSA. Clinical use of mobile phones have increased exponentially. Whilst evidence of contamination is documented, a key factor when determining potential risks of contamination, is establishing the duration the organism remains viable on the device. If pathogens are found to persist for extended duration, healthcare mobile phones may become fomites for cross departmental transmission. Determine the duration pathogenic bacteria, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli , two Pseudomonas sp. Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis susceptible and resistant to vancomycin (VSE and VRE) Staphylococcus aureus susceptible and resistant to methicillin (MSSA and MRSA), and a coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CoNs) can remain viable on a mobile phone under controlled conditions. Phones were inoculated with 106 – 107 of each bacterium. The duration of viability was measured from the point the inoculum had dried and CFUs retrieved at timed intervals over 28 days. The mean percentage of bacteria viable at each time point was significantly different (20mins, P =.004, 1 hour P =.014, 6 hours P =.006, 24 hours P =.004, 7 days P =.007, 14 days P =.003, 21 days P =.002- and 28 days P =.004). Gram-positive bacteria remained viable longer than gram-negative bacteria (P =.010). MSSA declined faster than MRSA within the first 6 hours (P =.036). The extended duration of bacterial viability indicates the ability for pathogens to persist on a device and remain viable long enough to be transmitted to new areas both within the hospital and out to the community. Mobile phone decontamination should occur in combination of hand hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]