ISOLATION OF MICROORGANISMS ON THE SURFACE OF MOBILE PHONES

This study was conducted to determine microbial contamination of mobile phones in the university of Ilorin campus, in the central north region of Nigeria, and identify the most important microbial species associated with these phones in order to take the necessary remedial measures. The analysis of a total of 202 samples was done to identify fungal and pathogenic bacteria isolates. Sterile swabs were firmly passed on the handset, the buttons and the screens of mobile phones, and then inoculated into media of bacteria and fungi. Frequency distributions of isolates were calculated. The organisms consistently isolated in this research, with their percentage frequency of occurrence, based on colonial morphology and biochemical characteristics comprised of Staphylococcus aureus (60%), Bacillus subtilis (95%) , Enterobacter aerogenes (30%) Aspergillus niger (90%), and Rhizopus spp. (50%). The mean bacterial viable count recorded was 4.93 x 106 CFU/g, 2-12 x 106 and 3.22 x 106CFU/g This is influenced by the number of users in case of business mobile phones. Less busy phone, had lower bacterial count. Consequently, these mobile phones could serve as a vehicle for the transmission of pathogenic organisms. The study showed that all mobile phones under consideration were infected by several microbes, most of which belonged to the natural flora of the human body as well as airborne fungi and soil. This means that it is necessary to practice good personal hygiene by sterilizing hands after contact with a phone to reduce the incidence of microbial transmission especially at call centers since it is a source of disease transmission