STUDY ON MICROBIAL LOAD OF SMARTPHONES USED BY ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCE STUDENTS AND STAFF

Abstract

Cell phones have become one of the essential devices used for communication in daily life, and 
they are commonly used almost everywhere. This study has done to enumerate the microbial 
load of smart phones used by allied health care students and staff. Mobile swabs from students 
and staff was collected and inoculated with different types of bacterial and fungal media. In this 
study, bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Coagulase – negativeStaphylococcus, 
Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Enterococcus, Klebsiellasp,Proteus sp
andaerobic spore forming bacilli were found. Fungisuch as Aspergillusniger,Candida 
albicansand A. flavuswere found. It is necessary to create awareness among health care students 
and staff and also to restrict the usage of mobile phones in sterile areas and laboratories. 
Advisable to use the nanotechnology that has the anti- bacterial coat for mobile phones.