Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The Importance of Mobile Phones in the Possible Transmission of Bacterial Infections in the Community

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mobile phones have become indispensable accessories in today’s life. However, they might act as fomites as they have travelled with their owner to places such as toilets, hospitals and kitchens which are loaded with microorganisms. A cross-sectional study was carried out to isolate and identify bacteria from mobile phones of volunteers in the community. A total of 192 mobile phones from 102 males and 90 females were swabbed and cultured. The bacteria were identified by gram staining and conventional biochemical tests. A total of 176 mobile phones (91.7 %) showed bacterial contamination. Coagulase negative Staphylococcus was the most prevalent (69.3 %) followed by Micrococci (51.8 %), Klebsiella (1.5 %) and Pseudomonas (1 %). The mean colony forming units was higher among females than males (p < 0.05; 95 % CI 0.021–0.365) and higher on mobile phones which were kept in bags than in pockets (p < 0.05; 95 % CI 0.019–0.369). Furthermore, the use of phone cover was found to reduce microbial growth (OR 4.2; 95 % CI 1.423–12.39; p < 0.05). Significant associations were also found between bacterial growth and female participants, agricultural workers, mobile phones older than 6 months and sharing of mobile phones (p < 0.05). Mobile phones from the community carry potential pathogens. Cleaning of mobile phones should be encouraged and should be preferably stored in pockets or carry cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gonzaga, A. J., Mortimer, E. A., Wonlinsky, E., & Rammelkamp, C. H. (1964). Transmission of Staphylococci by fomites. JAMA, 189(10), 711–715.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kuria, J. K., Wahome, R. G., Jobalamn, M., & Kariuki, S. M. (2009). Profile of bacteria and fungi on money coins. East African Medical Journal, 86(4), 151–155.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bright, K. R., Boone, S. A., & Gerba, C. P. (2010). Occurrence of bacteria and viruses on elementary classroom surfaces and the potential of classroom hygiene in the spread of infectious diseases. The Journal of School Nursing, 26(1), 33–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Datta, P., Rani, H., Chander, J., & Gupta, V. (2009). Bacterial contamination of mobile phones of health care workers. Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, 27, 279–281.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Brady, R. R., Wasson, A., Stirling, I., Mc Allister, C., & Damani, N. N. (2006). Is your phone bugged? The incidence of bacteria known to cause nosocomial infection on healthcare worker’s mobile phones. Journal of Hospital Infection, 62, 123–125.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Singh, S., Acharya, S., Bhat, M., Rao, S. K., & Pentapati, K. C. (2010). Mobile phone hygiene: Potential risks posed by use in the clinics of an Indian dental school. Journal of Dental Education, 74(10), 1153–1158.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Akinyemi, K. O., Atapu, A. D., Adetona, O. O., & Coker, A. O. (2009). The potential role of mobile phones in the spread of bacterial infections. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 3(8), 628–632.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ulger, F., Esen, S., Dilek, A., Yanik, K., Gunaydin, M., & Leblebicioglu, H. (2009). Are we aware how contaminated our mobile phones with nosocomial pathogens? Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, 8, 9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Piette, A., & Verschraegen, G. (2009). Role of coagulase negative staphylococcus in human disease. Veterinary Microbiology, 134(1–2), 45–54.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bos, M. M., Smeets, L. S., Durmay, I., & de Jonge, E. (2013). Bloodstreams infections in patients with or without cancer in a large community hospital. Infection, 41(5), 949–958.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Salar, A., Crratala, J., Fernandez-Sevilla, A., Marin, D., & Granena, A. (1997). Pneumonia caused by Micrococcus species in a neutropenic patient with acute leukemia. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 16(7), 546–548.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Payne, J. H., Welch, J. C., & Vora, A. J. (2003). Fatal pulmonary haemorrhage associated with micrococcal infection in two children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/oncology, 25(12), 969–974.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Paraskaki, I., Lebessi, E., & Legakis, N. J. (1996). Epidemiology of community acquired Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in children. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 15(10), 782–786.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Lu, Y., Guo, P., Ye, Y. J., Wang, H., Shen, Z. L., Wang, Q., et al. (2013). Clinical and microbiological features of community-acquired and nosocomial bloodstream infections in the surgical department of a tertiary-care hospital in Beijing. Chinese Medical Journal, 126(22), 4242–4246.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Saibal, M. A., Rahman, S. H., Nishat, L., Sikder, N. H., Begum, S. A., Islam, M. J., et al. (2012). Community acquired pneumonia in diabetic and non-diabetic hospitalized patients: presentation, causative pathogens and outcome. Bangladesh Medical Research Council Bulletin, 38(3), 98–103.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Singh, V., Aggarwal, V., Bansal, S., Garg, S. P., & Chowdhary, N. (1998). Telephone mouthpiece as a possible source of hospital infection. The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India, 46(4), 372–373.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Dogan, M., Feyzioglu, B., Ozdemir, M., & Baysal, B. (2008). Investigation of microbial colonization of computer keyboards used inside and outside hospital environments. Mikrobiyoloji bülteni, 42(2), 331–336.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Bakunas-Kenneley, I., & Madigan, A. E. (2009). Infection prevention and control in home health care: the nurse’s bag. American Journal of Infection Control, 37(8), 687–688.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Williams, D. L., Gerba, C. P., Maxwell, S., & Sinclair, R. G. (2011). Assessment of the potential for cross-contamination of food products by reusable shopping bags. Food protection Trends, 31(8), 508–513.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Braddy, R. R., Wasson, A., Stirling, I., Mc Allister, C., & Damani, N. N. (2006). Is your phone bugged? The incidence of bacteria known to cause nosocomial infection in healthcare workers mobile phones. Journal of Hospital Infection, 62, 123–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all the volunteers who participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Candos Laboratory, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Candos, Mauritius

    A. Bhoonderowa & S. Gookool

  2. Department of Health Sciences, University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius

    S. D. Biranjia-Hurdoyal

Authors
  1. A. Bhoonderowa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Gookool
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. D. Biranjia-Hurdoyal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. D. Biranjia-Hurdoyal.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bhoonderowa, A., Gookool, S. & Biranjia-Hurdoyal, S.D. The Importance of Mobile Phones in the Possible Transmission of Bacterial Infections in the Community. J Community Health 39, 965–967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9838-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9838-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation