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Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Mobile Phones

2018; Symbiosis Group; Volume: 6; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.15226/sojmid/6/1/00190

2372-0956

Sujan Khadka, Sanjib Adhikari, Sanjeep Sapkota, Pabitra Shrestha,

Mobile Health and mHealth Applications

Mobile phones widely used in our day-to-day lives are potential reservoir for a number of bacteria including Staphylococcus aureus.The study was carried out from February to May 2017 with a major objective of screening methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) from mobile phones used by the staffs and students of Birendra Multiple Campus, Bharatpur, Nepal.Out of 212 swabbed samples of mobile phones analysed by standard microbiological technique, 112 (56.0%) showed the presence of S. aureus.Gentamicin 101 (90.2%) was the most effective antibiotic whereas cefoxitin 42 (37.5%)was the least effective antibiotic.MRSA 30 (26.8%), Vancomycin Intermediate S. aureus (VISA) 58 (51.8%) and MDR S. aureus 24 (21.4%) were detected.Significant associations were noted between the rate of occurrence of MRSA and MDR S. aureus with various attributes such as the gender of the user, the way of handling the mobile phones and also with the length of use of mobile phones (P-value < 0.01).Our findings indicate the mobile phones can carry potentially threatening species of S. aureus which can cause severe health hazards to humans.Awareness about regular disinfection of mobile phones, hand hygiene, restricting the use of mobile phones in contaminating areas and proper place for storing mobile phones can be suggested.