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

Abstract

This is a cross-sectional study carried out during the period from April to June, 2014. The objective of the study was to assess Gram-negative bacteria on mobile phones. The mobile phones were randomly selected from different universities in Khartoum State. Each mobile phone was sampled by means of a sterile cotton swab moistened with sterile normal saline. The swab was rotated over the surface of both sides of the mobile phone and soaked in 2 ml of sterile normal saline in a sterile small test tube. Bacterial load was calculated by pour plate method. Gram-negative bacteria were identified by colonial morphology, Gram stain and biochemical tests using Microbact™ 24E. The results revealed that out of 200 swabs cultured, 34(17%) contained bacterial growth. The rest 176(83%) showed no bacterial growth. The mean of bacterial load was 11.78×〖10〗^7CFU/ml. Eight (8) Gram-negative bacterial species were identified. These were Pseudomonas aeruginosa 6(75%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 1(12.5%) and Providencia stuartii 1(12.5%). The majority of mobile phones screened were free of bacterial contamination. The bacterial load was high in few mobiles. Education of mobile holders on the importance of hygiene practices, hand washing and infection control are highly recommended.