MOBILE PHONE AS A POTENTIAL RESERVOIR OF VARIOUS MICROFLORA

Author(s): Patel H. D.* and Panchal H. K.

Abstract: Mobile phones are increasingly used by professionals, university/college staff and students as well as health care personnel for communication. These mobile phones act as reservoir of microbial flora. The objective of the study was to determine microbiological load of mobile phones collected from microbiology laboratory students and staff members as well as healthcare personnel. Swabs were rubbed on mobile phones and were inoculated on nutrient agar plates and microbial isolates obtained were analyzed by Gram staining. The result obtained showed total 98 isolates from 20 samples; out of them 78 were Gram positive and 20 were Gram negative bacterial isolates. Gram negative isolates were further selected for biochemical characterization and antibiotic susceptibility profile assessment. Identification was done by basic online identification method which showed % wise results and showed Escherichia coli as potent organism spread via mobile phones. This study highlights the fact that mobile phones are potential threat in the dissemination of infectious pathogens.

PAGES: 667-673  |  135 VIEWS  317 DOWNLOADS