A growing body of evidence suggests that mobile phones are highly contaminated devices regularly used in high–priority areas of hospitals such as the intensive care unit, and surgical theatres. This is of concern considering the immunocompromised nature of patients in these clinical settings. This project seeks to understand and address the role of mobile phones in facilitating the circulation of hospital infections. Through collaboration with industry this project seeks to utilise state of the art UV-C technology as part of an Australia first to bring St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital to the forefront of infection control practice and research.

The project will measure mobile phone usage and microbial loads across hospital users. The team will then evaluate the effectiveness of ultraviolet light (specifically UV-C) phone sanitisation and assess the feasibility of adopting this technology within routine hospital infection control practices. 

This research also lays a foundation for the utilisation of UV-C device to reduce hospital infections through the decontamination of other devices such as ultrasound equipment.