ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH MOBILE PHONES FARNAZ NABIYA MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA
ABSTRACT AIM: This study aims to examine the microorganisms that generally contaminate the mobile phone and to raise the level of awareness among the people regarding the need to clean it periodically by following proper hygienic measures. PURPOSE OF STUDY: The dissertation investigates the dangerous causes and effects of the microorganisms associated with mobile phones. The purpose of this study is to observe the microbial contamination of mobile phones and also to identify the most important microbial species associated with these phones. In turn this will help take the necessary measures to curb the potential transmission of diseases. METHODOLOGY: 31 mobile phone samples were collected from 30 volunteers on the basis of two groups- Group A (doctors and clinicians) and Group B (workers, receptionist, security guard, and student involved in current study) and immediately streaked in Mac Conkey and blood agar plates. Identification of microorganisms were done using Biochemical test, gram staining and colony morphology. RESULTS: Results show that, out of 31 samples, 16 were contaminated with bacteria. In this findings, unexpectedly the most abundant microorganisms were found to be Non-Fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli followed by Gram Positive Bacilli, Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.677% each) and Aerobic Spore Forming bacteria and Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (6.4516 % each). Group A showed the highest rate of contamination (13 positive growth) when compared to Group B as people in Group A are in direct contact with the patients. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that mobile phones can act as reservoirs of both pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms. It is therefore necessary to take remedial hygienic measures while using mobile phones as people rarely disinfect their own. Also, doctors and clinicians should regularly disinfect their phones as they are more prone to diseases and infections when compared to other people and it serve as vectors or fomites for the microorganisms to grow. Keywords: Mobile phones, Contamination, Non-fermenting Gram Negative Bacilli.
MICROO RGANISMS ISOLATED FROM MOBILE
BLOOD AGAR
MAC CONKEY
MORPHOLOGY OF THE BACTERIA
BIOCHEMICAL TEST
AGAR
PHONES GRAM STAINING
SHAPE OF THE
INDOLE
BACTERIA
TEST
MANNITOL
TRIPLE SUGAR
TEST
IRON
Non fermenting GramNegative
CITRATE
+
+
-
Bacilli
-ve
-ve
K/K
-ve
+
+
-
Bacilli
-ve
+ve
A/A
+ve
+
Bacilli
-ve
-ve
+
Bacilli
-ve
-ve
-
-ve
+
Cocci
-ve
-ve
-
-ve
Bacilli
Klebsiella pneumoniae Gram positive
+
Bacilli
Aerobic Spore
No
-
-ve
growth
+
No
Forming
growth
Coagulase Negative
No +
growth
Staphylococci
Antibiotic Susceptibility Test and Biochemical Test of Klebsiella pneumoniae
INTRODUCTION Mobile phones are considered to be one of the most dispensable accessories in our social life. By the end of 2017, it was estimated that more than 4.57 billion smart phones were in use worldwide, and it is estimated that this number will approximately double within the next 4 years. With all the achievements and benefits of the mobile phone, it is easy to overlook its hazard to health that it poses to many users with thousands of microbes living on each square inch of the phone, which is significantly more than the sole of a shoe or a door handle. In addition, mobile phones might act as fomites as they are carried by users to places such as market, toilets, hospitals and kitchens, that are a perfect habitat for the microbes to breed, providing higher temperature and humid conditions. The human skin is constantly in contact with microorganisms and becomes readily colonized by certain microbial species. The adult human is covered with approximately 2m2 of skin, with surface area supporting about 1012 bacterial cells/person. During a phone call, the mobile phone comes into close contact with contaminated human body areas with hands to hands, and hands to other areas like mouth, nose and ears. Because of this reason different types of microorganisms survive in the mobile phones and cause diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the different types of microorganisms found in mobile phones and its pathological health effect it causes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
Experimental set up Preparation of Mac Conkey, Blood agar and Mueller Hinton Agar Sample collection Gram Staining Biochemical tests Antibiotic Susceptibility tests
DISCUSSION AND RESULTS
BACTERIA
AGAR MEDIUM PLATE
MICROSCOPIC VIEW
AEROBIC SPORE FORMING BACTERIA GRAM NEGATIVE BACILLI
CONCLUSION ❖ ❖ ❖
Klebsiella pneumoniae
❖
A total of 31 samples were collected from the mobile phones of the volunteers in the laboratory premises on the basis of two groups A & B. Organisms: Non-fermenting Gram negative Bacilli, Gram Positive Bacilli, Aerobic spore forming Bacilli, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Rate of contamination: Group A > Group B which indicates that the regular use of mobile phones within the laboratory setting might serve as a vehicle of transmission of microorganisms that can cause disease in human beings. Important to stress awareness about the potential role of mobile phones in transmission of infectious agents. And, it is also important to understand that the regular cleaning of the mobile phones and adhering to the infection control practices would significantly decrease the transmission rate of these microorganisms.
REFERENCES
COAGULASE NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI
❖ Srikanth, P., lakshmanan, A., Umameheswari, Kalyani, J., Ezilarasanrajaram, Suchithra sudharsanam. (2009). “Mobile Phone in A Tropical Setting - Emerging Threat for Infection Control.” Sri Ramachandira Journal of Medicine, 2, 18-20. ❖ Batool H. Al-Ghurabi , Nidhal H. Ghaib , Ahmed A Abbas , Batol K. Al-Musawi , Nada S. Hassain and Zainab H. Al-Ghurabi. “Evaluation of Microbial Contamination of Mobile Phone among Dentists in College of Dentistry in Baghdad University.” International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 2017, 6(11): 98-101.