Assessment of Bacterial Contamination on Mobile Phones

Abstract

The Mobile phones are one of the most important devices which can transfer infectious agents. The objective of this study was to assess the bacterial contamination of mobile phones used by students of Sudan University Science and Technology. The study was conducted during the period from October to December 2017. The samples were collected by sterile cotton wool swab from the surface of the mobile phone. The swabs were labeled, inserted in sterile nutrient broth medium and immediately transported to the Research Laboratory for processing. Then the samples were cultured and processed according to standard microbiological procedures. The growth was observed and assessed identification of isolated bacteria was done by Gram’s stain and biochemical tests. Of the fifty samples obtained from the surface of mobile phones, growth was obtained from 43 (86%) samples while 7 (14%) samples showed no growth. The isolates prepared for staining and identification. According to the results of the biochemical tests performed, the bacteria isolated were 38(88.4%) of examined growth. The identified bacteria were Bacillus spp was 15(39.4%), coagulase -negative staphylococci were 11(29%), Staphylococcus aureus were also 11(29%), and one sample was Klebsiella pneumoniae (2.6%). The fungal contamination was detected in 5(11.6%) of total collected samples. The findings of this research indicate that bacteria isolated from mobile phones are known to cause infections in human beings; therefore personal hygiene is very important. Further study using large numbers of samples are required to validate the results of the present study.