MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF TOUCH SCREEN MOBILE PHONES OF STUDENTS ENGAGED IN THE LABORATORY.

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining the microbial contamination of touch screen mobile phones of student engaged in the laboratory. A total of 30 samples were collected. Sterile swab sticks moistened with normal saline were firmly passed on the surfaces of the mobile phones screen and then inoculated on nutrient agar, salmonella shigella agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. The organisms revealed included Staphylococcus species (60%), Salmonella species (20%), Bacillus species (40%), Penicillium species (30%) and Aspergillus species (70%). They study showed that the mobile phones examined were contaminated with microbes. Most of which belongs to natural flora of the human body. Personal hygiene by sterilizing hands after working in the laboratory is recommendation to reduce the incidence of transmission.