Microbial Contamination from Mobile Phones of Social Groups at Kufa Technical Institute and Efficiency of Two Disinfections to its Reduction

Aims: Mobile phones, which are one of the most essential tools in social and professional life, are rarely disinfected. So, these devices may become contaminated with a variety of bacterial organisms. The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial contamination and identify all bacterial isolates of mobile phones related to social groups in Kufa Technical Institute and to determine the efficiency of two disinfectants prepared on bacterial species. Materials & Methods: Fifty-one swab samples of mobile phones were randomly collected from different people in the social groups of Kufa Technical Institute and cultured on selective and enrichment media and incubated at ۳۷°C for ۲۴ hours. Then, the isolated bacteria were identified by gram staining and biochemical tests and confirmed using Vitek ۲. Next, two disinfectants were prepared and their inhibitory activity against microbes compared to ethanol alcohol-۷۰% was investigated. Findings: Ten bacterial species were isolated and identified from mobile phones, which included Staphylococcus aureus (۴۹%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (۱۲%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (۱۱%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (۶%), Escherichia vulner (۶%), Escherichia coli (۴%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (۴%), Bacillus sp (۴%), Pantoea spp (۲%), and Cronobacter C sakazakii (۲%). Microbial growth was also reduced by the use of disinfectants, the first disinfectant showed a higher inhibitory effect compared to the second disinfectant, while the control disinfectant (ethanol-۷۰%) had no effect on all tested bacteria. Conclusion: Bacteria colonize cell phones in social groups. Using disinfectants reduces bacterial contamination on the surface of the mobile phone.

Keywords:

Mobile Phones , Equipment Contamination , Aloe vera , Disinfectant