Isolation and Identification of Bacteria Associated With Handsets Used by University Students in Ambrose Alli University

Student: Rachel Etaname Adebayo (Project, 2025)
Department of Microbiology
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State

Abstract

Mobile phones also known as cell phones are electronic devices used for personal telecommunications over a cellular network of specialized base stations known as cell sited. The aim of the study is to determine the microorganisms associated with handsets used by Microbiology Students Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma. A total of one hundred (100) mobile phones were randomly sampled consisting of fifty (50) touch screen phones and fifty (50) keypad phones. The target phones were swabbed over its surface after which the swab sticks were put quickly into its container and sealed. From the result obtained in this study, the prevalence of microorganisms is 40.00%. Of the forty (40) microorganisms isolated, 25 (62.50%) were from touch screen phones, while 15 (37.50%) were from keypad phones. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent organism (70.00%), followed by Streptococcus species (25.00%), while Bacillus species was the least (5.00%). The study showed that the mobile phones examined were contaminated with bacteria including potential disease causing ones organisms. Thus, cell phones could serve as vehicles of disease transmission.

Keywords
university isolation identification bacteria associated handsets students ambrose
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