Prevalence of Drug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Mobile Phones of Pharmacy Students, Teaching Staff, Laboratory Technicians and Employees at University of Tripoli- Libya

الملخص

Transmission of microorganisms among university workers represents a major risk factor of microbial contamination raised from
handling of mobile phones (MPs) close to the sensitive area in the face. Drug-resistant bacteria causing nosocomial infection
such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli found to be the most common bacterial
isolates of MPs which frequently used by pharmacy college students, teaching staff, laboratory technicians and employees at
university of Tripoli. Assessment of risk factors associated with bacterial colonization on MPs of university workers was the
core objective of this cross-sectional study. Environmental contacts of MPs to various areas such as studying and dining tables,
kitchen surfaces, coffees, restaurants, gyms and toilets expose users of mobile phones to the risk of bacterial contamination. The
later condition might be increased due to long survival time of bacterial cells on MPs surfaces leading to increase in the risk of
bacterial cross-contamination and occurrence of infectious disease.
Samples from MPs of 86 students and employee in the University of Tripoli were collected using sterile moistened cotton swabs
and investigated for their bacterial contamination. Standard microbiological methods, including gram staining, biochemical tests
and cultural media were used for isolation and identification of bacteria contaminated MPs. Bacterial isolate then subjected to
antibiotic sensitivity test.
Gram positive and gram negative bacterial isolates accounted for 51 (68 %) and 20 (26.6 %) respectively of the study’s participants
MPs. The number and percentage of most commonly isolated bacteria in descending order were; Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)
26 (34.6%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) 17 (22.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps. aeruginosa) 10 (13.3%)
and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (S. saprophyticus.) 8 (10.7%). By contrast Escherichia coli (E. coli) 1 (1.3%), Citrobacter
species (C. spp.) 2 (2.7%), Enterobacter species (Entero. spp) 3 (4%) and Citrobacter freundii (C. freundii) 4 (5.3%) were the
lowest isolated bacteria. Moreover, results indicated that the majority of bacterial isolates exhibited high percentage of resistant
to Erythromycin and Clotrimazole antibiotics. However, some of other isolated bacteria showed sensitivity to antibiotics such
as Ceftazidime, Ceftriaxone, and Ciprofloxacin. From demographic point of view, the distribution of MPs among participants
exhibited the following pattern in ascending order; for gender (45% females) and (55%% males); for marital state (24% married
males), (41 % married females), (43% single females) and (49% single males); for age of 18-25 years (38 % females) and (57.4%
males),
In this study prevalence of bacterial colonization covers all MPs used by university workers. Finding of this study indicates
that the risk factors for MP associated with different category groups of university (pharmacy college students, teaching staff,
laboratory technicians, employees) and the use of stringent standardized disinfection strategy should be taking as priority measures
to control bacterial contamination and avoiding any infection might be caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria including MRSA.