Researchers collected swab samples from the keypads, microphones, and ear pieces of cell phones used by patients, visitors, and healthcare workers at a hospital. They found that cell phones used by patients and visitors were twice as likely to contain potentially harmful bacteria as those used by healthcare workers. Specifically, 39.6% of patient and visitor phones contained pathogens, compared to just 20.6% of healthcare worker phones. Additionally, some bacteria found on patient phones were resistant to multiple drugs. The findings suggest that cell phones of patients and their companions pose a higher risk of spreading infection in hospitals than those of staff.