Dental caries comprises of highly complex, variable and uncultivable microbial population with dental caries, even though prime organisms are commonly known to be allied with disease succession. Association of mutans group Streptococci and Lactobacilli with the initiation of caries and early caries development have been well documented. Studies have shown transition of early caries causing gram-positive primary facultative bacteria to anaerobic gram-positive rods and cocci and gram-negative rods as the lesion progresses to deep carious lesion. The permeation of microorganisms into the soft dentine maintains the acidity and consequently jeopardizes the pulp vitality. Excavation of soft dentin will further lead to pulp exposure, and therefore it is imperious to preserve the pulp vitality by a thorough and conservative approach with the use of efficacious unguents instead of resorting to endodontic therapy. Commonly used material in view of pulp preservation is Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA), a calcium silicate based material that has been widely used in treatment of deep dentinal caries, including root-end filling, direct pulp capping, and regenerative endodontic procedures because of its resourceful properties like antibacterial activity, anti-inflammation, biocompatibility and osteo/odontogenicity. Previous studies have shown pronounced anti-bacterial efficiency of MTA against Lactobacillus acidophilus (LB).

Cell phones are the most common gadgets used in today’s world. Studies from different countries demonstrated that these electronic gadgets can carry different bacterial species, including potential pathogenic strains. These gadgets are in the hands of every health care professionals (HCPs) and can even be found in the operation theatres (OT). Moreover, healthcare workers tend to neglect the potential infectious threat that these gadgets carry. Hence, we investigated the microbial profile present on cell phones used by HCPs in United Arab Emirates (UAE). Standard microbiological procedures were used for collection and identification of bacterial species. Disk diffusion assay and crystal violet dye binding spectrophotometric assay were used for determining antibiogram and biofilm forming potential, respectively. Staphylococcus epidermidis was present in 64.1% of the samples, followed by Micrococci (22.3%), Streptococcus viridians (2.2%), Diphtheroids (2.9%), Bacillus spp. (5.2%), Enterobacter spp. (1.4%) and Pseudomonas spp. (1.4%). The tested strains exhibited varied degree of antibiotic resistance and biofilm producing potential. Our data highlights that mobile phones may just not be carriers for normal skin flora but also for antibiotic resistant, biofilm forming potential opportunistic pathogens and thus may serve as transmission vectors for bacteria.  This is the first report from UAE analyzing carriage of bacteria in mobile gadgets used by HCPs. Furthermore, this would help to raise awareness among the HCPs about these electronic gadgets serving as a vehicle of transmission of bacterial pathogen.