Isolation of surveillance pathogenic fungal microbial contaminant on mobile phone

Abstract

AIM: Mobile phone has been used daily by almost everyone. This Research surveyed microbial contamination of mobile phones in the faculty of Medicine Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati and identify the most influential fungal microbial species. METHODS: A group of 15 samples was analysed to identify fungal isolates. The mobile phones were swabbed firmly passing its touch screen using sterile swabs then inoculated into media for fungi. Frequency distribution of isolates was calculated. RESULTS: There were fungal isolates as follows: Aspergillus Orchareus, Aspergillus flavus, Alternaria, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp., Cladosporium sp., Candida sp., Aspergillus Fumigatus, and Mucor sp. at the rate of 19, 6, 1, 3, 2, 10, 2, 52, 2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The research indicates that all mobile phones were considerably having microbial infection, mostly from humans’ natural flora and also from the air and soil. This determines that it is necessary to sterilize hands prior to a contact with mobile phones since it could lead into disease transmission.