Assessment of Gram-positive Bacterial Contamination on Mobile Phone-Khartoum State

Abstract

Mobile phones are along range portable electronic devices for personal telecommunication. They are continuously used all day long but never cleaned. There are no guidelines for proper disinfection and decontamination of these phones. This study was carried out in Khartoum State community represented by randomly selected universities to assess Gram-positive bacteria on mobile phone. The study was conducted during the period from April to August 2014. Mobile phones sampled by sterile cotton swabs moistened in sterile normal saline. Two hundred and three samples were collected by swabbing the two surfaces of phone. Each sample was kept in 2 ml sterile normal saline in sterile test tube. The Gram-positive bacteria were identified by their colonial morphology, Gram stain and biochemical tests. Out of 203 samples investigated, 34 (16.7%) showed bacterial growth. Bacterial load mean was 59 x 106 CFU/ml. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were represent 26(76.5%). Of these 17(65.4%) Stphylococcus simulans, 4(15.4%), Stphylococcus lugdunensis, 3(11.5%) Stphylococcus warneri, and 2 (7.7%) Stphylococcus hominis. It is concluded that the percentage of mobile phone contaminated is low. High bacterial load was calculted. Hand washing and regular cleaning of mobile phone are highly recommended. Further studies are required to validate the results of this study.