Evaluation of Short-Term Exposure to 2.4 GHz Radiofrequency Radiation Emitted from Wi-Fi Routers on the Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Background: Overuse of antibiotics is a cause of bacterial resistance. It is known that electromagnetic waves emitted from electrical devices can cause changes in biological systems. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of short-term exposure to electromagnetic fields emitted from common Wi-Fi routers on changes in antibiotic sensitivity to opportunistic pathogenic bacteria. Materials and Methods: Standard strains of bacteria were prepared in this study. Antibiotic susceptibility test, based on the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, was carried out in Mueller-Hinton agar plates. Two different antibiotic susceptibility tests for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were conducted after exposure to 2.4-GHz radiofrequency radiation. The control group was not exposed to radiation. Results: Our findings revealed that by increasing the duration of exposure to electromagnetic waves at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, bacterial resistance increased against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, especially after 24 hours (P<0.05). Conclusion: The use of electromagnetic waves with a frequency of 2.4 GHz can be a suitable method for infection control and treatment. [GMJ.2020;9:e1580]