Antimicrobial sensitivity patterns of Staphylococcus species isolated from mobile phones and implications in the health sector

BMC Res Notes. 2021 Jan 6;14(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s13104-020-05413-7.

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this research was to determine drug sensitivity profiles of Staphylococcus species isolated from mobile phones of students in Microbiology and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences from UZIMA University, Kisumu (Kenya) and the University Colleges Leuven-Limburg, Leuven (Belgium), respectively.

Results: All mobile phones (16/16, 100%) had gram-positive bacteria. 3/8 (37.5%) mobile devices had Staphylococcus aureus. 2/3 (67%) Staphylococcus aureus strains were resistant to ampicillin, oxacillin, ceftazidime, vancomycin and amoxicillin. Guidelines for disinfection of mobile phones need to be developed urgently to stop transmission of resistant bacteria.

Keywords: Drug-resistant bacteria; Gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus species.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Belgium
  • Cell Phone*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Kenya
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Staphylococcus*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents