Isolation of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Mobile Phone of University Students in Enugu State, Nigeria

Mobile phone is a wireless handheld electronic device that allow users to make and receive calls. They are becoming formites for the transmission of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA), due to unhealthy handling of these devices by users who do not have regard for hygiene, thereby making the gadget prone to pathogenic microorganisms. This could be a source of infection which and may be detrimental to the health of the students. The study was carried out to isolate Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from mobile phone of University students and to propose possible preventive measures against the organism. A total of 60 mobile phones were randomly selected from University students and swab from surfaces of these mobile phones were collected using disposable sterile cotton swabs moistened with sterile normal saline. These samples were inoculated onto plates containing Mannitol salt agar and were incubated aerobically at 370C for 24 hours. Out of the sixty (60) mobile phone samples that were analyzed, 41 (68.3%) of the samples were contaminated with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. This was determined using Oxacillin (Oxoid) 10µg sensitivity disc which 41 (68.3%) of the samples were resistant to. This study showed that mobile phones are carriers of MRSA. Therefore, it is recommended that adequate cleanliness or good hygiene practices such as constant hand washing, regular disinfection of mobile phones with 70% alcohol and avoiding the use of mobile phones in the toilet are necessary measures that will help in reducing the occurrence of this organism. These measures can make mobile phones MRSA-free thereby reducing morbidity, mortality and the cost of medical treatment.