Bacterial contamination associated with mobile phones used by students at Basrah Medical College, Basrah, Iraq

Abstract EN

Background: Cell phones are increasingly becoming an important vector for pathogens, especially when they are combined with unhealthy behaviours that speed up the spread of nosocomial infections.

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate microbial contamination of mobile phones belonging to students of Basrah Medical College, located in the southern region of Iraq.

Methods: Samples were collected aseptically with sterile swmoistened with sterile normal saline solution over a period of four weeks.

One hundred mobile devices were included in this study.

The wet swab was rolled over the exposed surfaces of the mobile phones.

Results: Of 100 swsamples, 137 isolates were identified.

Of these, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most frequently identified microorganisms, in addition to other important pathogens.

Conclusion: This study showed that mobile phones are potential carriers for the spread of many pathogens, and a measure of cleanliness must be introduced to prevent the possibility of cross contamination.

It was also revealed that bacteria colonized mobile phones of medical students and the contaminated mobile phones are able to transport microbes that may be able to produce serious disease.