Dirty phone calls.Could your doctor's cell phone be transmitting more than voice and data messages? New studies suggest they could also be spreading dangerous bacteria, as well. One study tested cell phones used by health care workers in an Israeli hospital and found 12 percent contaminated with potentially harmful germs. The Israeli hospital has now banned the cell phones. Another study found that EKG EKG: see electrocardiography. wiring could be carrying dangerous germs as well. Despite following standard disinfection disinfection, n the process of destroying pathogenic organisms or rendering them inert. disinfection, full oral cavity, n a procedure used to reduce active periodontal disease, usually completed within a certain short time frame. procedures, researchers found that 9 out of 50 wiring units were contaminated with vancomycin-resistant enterococci enterococci bacteria in the genus Enterococcus. bacteria and other drug resistant germs. Given that as many as one in 20 patients--and perhaps as many as one in five ICU ICU intensive care unit. ICU abbr. intensive care unit ICU see intensive care unit. ICU patients--get hospital-acquired infections Hospital-Acquired Infections Definition A hospital-acquired infection is usually one that first appears three days after a patient is admitted to a hospital or other health care facility. , every potential infection source needs to be examined. --James A. Hawkins is a health care writer based in Aiken, S.C. He can be reached by phone at (803)414-2062 or by e-mail at hir@ix.netcom.com. |
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