This is how a SMARTPHONE is DISINFECTED, STEP BY STEP

In full expansion of this new strain of coronavirus -with the panic that has generated in the population-, the health authorities around the world, like many non-governmental organizations, are recommending extreme precautions in relation to the hygiene. In this way, you try prevent contagion from coronaviruses or other pathologies and thus protect individuals and the public health system of each country.

Washing hands is one of the main recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), from global health authorities, and health professionals. However, when you think about washing your hands, you do not always take into account one of the elements that is in most contact with the hands, with the face and with almost all the places where people go: the cell phone.

According to a study by the United States Library of Medicine on the surface of a smartphone accumulate up 10 times more bacteria than in a toilet.

To avoid this potential focus of infections it is best to clean it thoroughly to maintain a good level of hygiene and that handwashing not in vain. In fact, big manufacturers like Apple or Google recommend disinfecting this type of devices With some frequency.

What is needed to disinfect the smartphone?

The Steps to clean the cell phone and remove as many bacteria as possible are simple, but necessary, like the utensils to be able to do it efficiently.

It is necessary to use two soft cloths that do not shed fibers. This option is more recommended than use paper towels Since these can cause micro scratches on the screen that would end up damaging it or, at least, it would damage the oleophobic layer that protects the screen.

Mild hand soap: the oleophobic coatings on the screen and on some back covers are very sensitive. That’s why you should avoid aggressive household cleaning products and abrasive solutions.

Toothpick: The slim and pointed profile allows access to corners such as the SIM card tray or the speaker slot for deep cleaning.

How to properly disinfect a cell phone

The first thing to consider before starting to disinfect your smartphone is what is the level of water resistance that the device has, since the collections are different depending on that characteristic.

In this sense, the same care should not be taken with a smartphone with IP68 resistance that allows cleaning even under the tap, one that is not waterproof, so the way to tackle cleaning will change dramatically.

Then it should completely turn off the phone and any accessories such as battery cases, housings or stands.

The third step is to prepare a soapy solution with warm water to clean the cell phone. The proportion varies depending on the type of soap, so it is up to each one.

It’s recommended moisten in greater or lesser intensity one of the soft cloths depending on the degree of water resistance of the smartphone and drain it to remove excess water.

You need to make sure clean more thoroughly the area of ​​the screen and bottom of the device since these areas are the ones that remain the most exposed to the mouth and nose.

At the end, the corners of the smartphone should be thoroughly dried with the second cloth and ensure that, effectively, no lint has been left that could get caught in the connectors of the smartphone.

Not just phones

The tablets and the laptops nor do they escape being a potential focus of disease transmission. A study by the University of North Dakota published in The American Journal of Infection Control, evaluated 20 iPads and concluded that until fifteen% of them were infected by potentially dangerous bacteria. Hence the importance of cleaning these everyday devices.

What bacteria can be in a cell phone?

As mentioned, there are several microorganisms that can live, grow and reproduce on the surface of a smartphone. Therefore, they can be in the hands, on the face, and in any other place with which the device is in contact.

Staphylococcus or Staphylococcus: It’s about a microorganism what can cause ailments and diseases infectious skin and ear, such as cellulite and otitis externa. Staphylococcus bacteria, types of germs normally found in the skin or nose even from healthy people, they cause infections from staphylococcus. Most of the time, these bacteria do not cause problems or cause relatively minor skin infections. However, staph infections can become more severe, and even fatal, if bacteria invade the body and enter the bloodstream, joints, bones, lungs, or heart.

Treatment generally consists of antibiotic administration and in the drainage of the infected area. However, some staph infections no longer respond to common antibiotics because of the resistance that has developed over the years.

Streptococcus or streptococcus: is a bacterium that spreads in the mucosa of mouth or nose and it can cause pathologies such as pharyngitis, even pneumonia, in the most serious cases.

There are several types of this bacteria; two of them cause most of strep infections in people, who are the group A and group B.
Group A streptococcus can cause throat infections -Tonsillitis, for example-, scarlet fever -a pathology that occurs after chronic pharyngitis-, some skin conditions, Y toxic shock syndrome.

For its part, group B streptococcus can cause blood infections, pneumonia and meningitis in newborns. The latter can be determined through a test during pregnancy.

Adults can also get group B streptococcal infections, especially if they are over 65 or if they have other health problems. Group B streptococcus can cause urinary tract, blood, and skin infections in adults; and pneumonia.

As in the case of infections by staphylococcus, the treatment of any of the mentioned pathologies is done through the use of antibiotics.

Salmonella: It is a bacterium that causes intestinal diseases. Infection by salmonella It is known as salmonellosis and it affects with greater or lesser severity intestinal tract. The salmonella bacterium generally lives in the intestines of animals and humans and is released through the faeces. People often get the infection through water or food that is contaminated with the bacteria.

In general, people who have a salmonella infection have no symptoms, but in some cases they may manifest diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 8 to 72 hours. It is important to mention that the vast majority of people who are healthy, that is, who have no other underlying pathology or are not part of the risk groups, recover within a few days without specific treatment.

In some cases, diarrhea associated with salmonella infection can dehydrate to the point of requiring medical attention. Life-threatening complications can also occur if the infection spreads beyond the intestines.

Klebsiella penumoniae: this bacterium usually causes diseases in people with immunosuppression, although it can also trigger disorders in those who do not have this type of problem.

The Klebsiella is on the surface of the water, soil and plants. In humans it is in the mucosa of the nose and pharynx, as well as in the gastrointestinal tract. It is worth mentioning that it is one of the microorganisms that has developed greater resistance to some antibiotics, which is why in recent years there has been an increase in cases of infection due to its presence.

The Klebsiella pneumoniae can punctually survive inhospitable conditions for its development, as well as on the skin because it has the ability to encapsulate.

Newborn children, patients admitted to the intensive care unit, those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), people with diabetes, alcoholics, and those with HIV are among the groups at highest risk of becoming ill with this bacterium.

It is important to note that in the face of presence of any of the symptoms mentioned you should do a medical consultation to find out what is the cause and what causes the symptoms. It will be the specialist who will be able to treat the person more adequately; is essential Keep communication with the health professional and never resort to self-medication, given that in most cases it is harmful to the person and to their treatment.

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