No abstract

Mobile phone is an extensively used personal gadget essential in daily life, gradually assuming the status of pathogenic agent of disease transmission. During the present study, 150 swab samples were collected from mobile phones of veterinarians, students (veterinary sciences), laboratory attendants, shepherds, meat and fish handlers of Kashmir valley for isolation, identification of public health significant bacteria and their antibiogram. Out of 150 swab sample examined, 96.66% mobile phones were found to be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Mobile phone of animal handlers and veterinary surgeons showed highest and lowest total viable count, respectively. Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Proteus spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp. and were frequently isolated from all mobile phone users. Among all the mobile phone users, highest percentage of E. coli (72%) and B. cereus (84%) was isolated from the fish and meat handlers. All the isolates were highly resistant to Amoxycillin/ Clavulonic acid, Amoxycillin, Ampicillin and Gentamicin. The present study indicates that mobile phones acts as an important source of pathogenic organisms for human and can serve as vehicle for cross-transmission of microbiota.

Mobile phone is an extensively used precious integral part of our daily life, increasingly assuming the status of sources of pathogenic organisms for disease transmission. During the present study 150 swab samples were collected from mobile phones of chicken, pork, chevon, fresh and processed fish handlers, and street food venders of Tripura for isolation, identification of public health significant bacteria and its antibiogram. Out of 150 swab sample examined 97.33% and 40% mobile phones were found contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and fungi, respectively. 80% of processed fish handlers mobile phones were highly contaminated with fungi. Mobile phone of pork and processed fish handlers were showed highest and lowest total viable count, respectively. Staphylococcus spp., MRSA, Bacillus cereus, E. coli, Klebsiella spp and Proteus spp. were frequently isolated from all mobile phone users. Among all mobile phone users highest percentage of Staphylococcus spp. (48%) Staphylococcus aureus (32%), Klebsiella spp (20%), Proteus spp. (24%); Bacillus cereus (56%), E. coli (32%), were isolated from the chicken, pork, meat and fish handlers. 23.68% MRSA isolated from the all selected groups of mobile phone handlers. All the isolates were resistant to Amoxycillin, Ampicillin and Oxytetracycline. The present study emphasized that the mobile phones acts as fomites for spreading of pathogenic microbes for disease transmission.

No abstract

No abstract