International Journal of Pathogen Research

Aims: This study investigated the investigation of the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of microorganisms on surfaces of mobile phones from some ready-to-eat food vendors in Imo State. To determine microbial load on mobile phones, isolate and identify the microorganisms and determine antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of microorganisms isolated.

Study Design: The study adopted a laboratory-based design.

Place and Duration: The study was conducted in Imo State between January, 2025 to June 2025.

Methodology: written consent was sought from the food vendors within the study location in order to involve them in the study. Different sterile swab sticks moistened with sterile water was used to swab the surfaces of twenty (20) phone samples comprising ten (10) touch screen (smart phones) and ten (10) button phones. Standard microbiological methods were adopted in the isolation and identification of the microorganisms associated with the mobile phones.

Results: Total viable bacterial counts ranged from 3.2 x 10²cfu/swab to 6.4 x 10² cfu/swab with small phones while 4.0 x 10¹ cfu/swab to 6.4 x 10²cfu/swab with smart android phones. Total coliform counts ranged from 3.0 x 10¹cfu/swab to 4.0 x 10¹ cfu/swab with small phones while total coliform counts ranged from 1.0 x 10¹cfu/swab to 3.0 x 10¹ cfu/swab with smart android phones. Total fungal counts ranged from 4.0 x 10¹cfu/swab to 1.4 x 10² cfu/swab with small phones while total fungal count ranged from 2.0 x 10¹cfu/swab to 6.0 x 10¹ cfu/swab. Small phones had highest microbial load compared to smart android phones. Bacterial isolates were; Bacillus, Klebsiella, Staphylococcus, Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas, Streptococcus and Escherichia species. Bacillus species 10(25.6%) and Staphylococcus species 10(25.6%) had the highest bacterial occurrence with small phones while Pseudomonas species 2(5.1%) had the least bacterial occurrence. For the big smart phones, Staphylococcus species 10(37.0%) had the highest bacterial occurrence while Pseudomonas species 1(3.7%) had the least bacterial occurrence. Fungal isolates were; Rhizopus, Mucor, Aspergillus and Candida species. Mucor species 5(31.3%) had the highest fungal occurrence with small phones while Rhizopus species 3(%) had the least fungal occurrence. For the big smart phones, Aspergillus species 2(33.3%) and Rhizopus species 2(33.3%) had the highest fungal occurrence while Mucor species 1(16.7%) and Candida species 1(16.7%) had the least fungal occurrence.

Conclusion: The presence of these microorganisms could be linked to frequent usage of the phones by the users after having contact with different surfaces. Personal hygiene is highly recommended, as mobile phone can be a potential source of disease transmission.