Microbial Contamination of Mobile Phones in the Medical Laboratory Technology Department of a Private University in Alexandria, Egypt
Journal Title: International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences (IJCMAS) - Year 2017, Vol 6, Issue 6
Abstract
Mobile phones are used worldwide by health care workers and laboratory practitioners, even during working hours and without any restrictions, regardless of their expected high microbial load. Unlike our hands, which are easily disinfected, mobile phones are cumbersome to clean. Thus, these devices have the potential for microbial contamination. This study was conducted to investigate microbial contamination of mobile phones at the medical laboratory technology department: Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt. Swab samples from 100 mobile phones were cultured. Quantification of bacterial contaminants was performed using both surface spread and pour plate methods. Bacterial strains isolated from 90% of samples were identified and their antibiotic sensitivity pattern was identified using standard microbiological methods. Pour plate method yielded better results for bacterial counts than the surface spread method in highly contaminated mobile phones. The most prevalent bacterial isolates were coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CNS):33% and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA):24%.Mobile phones usage in health care facilities, specifically laboratories, poses a severe threat for spread of infectious pathogens; both inside the facility and to the community outside.
Authors and Affiliations
Hadir EL- Kady
Keywords
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- EP ID EP570944
- DOI 10.20546/ijcmas.2017.606.024
- Views 75
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