ABSTRACT

Nowadays electronic gadgets have become inevitable equipments. We carry them everywhere but disinfect them very occasionally. So it can harbor various kinds of bacteria. This study was conducted to investigate bacteria from three such types of gadgets and assess awareness about the extent of transmission via electronic gadgets. The gadgets taken for the study were power banks, mobile phones (touch screen), and pen drives. Samples were collected by swabbing the surface of gadgets by sterile cotton swab sticks before and also after the disinfection of these electronic gadgets. Identification was done based on morphological, cultural, and biochemical characteristics of isolates. A survey was also conducted to analyze the extent of awareness among users. Out of total thirteen isolates found, Staphylococcus species and Bacillus species were predominant followed by Streptococcus species and Actinomycetes species. After disinfection, the bacterial rate of contamination was found to be reduced. From the survey, it was observed that there is a clear lack of awareness about cleaning habits, sharing habits, etc among users. This study revealed that most bacteria were found to be normal flora of the human body and some were opportunistic pathogens. Thus, it implies that electronic gadgets serve as vehicles to transmit bacteria from one individual to another. Keywords: Appraisal, Swabbing, Electronic gadgets, Normal flora, Opportunistic pathogens
Publication date: 01/07/2022

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2022/July/MS_IJBPAS_2022_6211.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2022/11.7.6211