83 Sampling evaluation of bacteria on smart phone screen surface

Smartphones is becoming an indispensable device, which is easily to carry and frequently to be used. Because of the convenience, it goes through various areas with the user, not only at home but also in the public. However, the environment may full of various microorganisms, the bacteria may colonize on the surface of the smartphone via fingers and becoming a vehicle for spreading. This study swabbed the smartphone touchscreens from both hospital staffs (group A) and community workers (group B), the BD Phoenix-100 were used to identify the bacteria species and their characteristics of antibiotics-resistant. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to evaluate the behaviour of each recruited participant. A total of 472 isolates from 196 samples were counted, 97% were Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus (46%), Micrococcus (12%), Dermacoccus and Streptococcus (both 6%) were the predominant isolates in group A; and Staphylococcus (50%), Micrococcus and Bacillus (both 8%) and Streptococcus (6%) were detected in group B. Eighty-five % of sampled bacteria on all participant’s smartphone revealed antibiotic-resistant and 55% of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were multidrug resistant bacteria. In both groups, 80-90% sampled bacteria exhibited the character of antibiotic resistance if they never use the alcohol to disinfect the contamination of smartphone surface (p =0.002). The staffs who working in the hospital did not use alcohol to disinfect their phones had higher rates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than community ones (p =0.003). Regular hand-washing and daily disinfection of smartphones shall be recommended, especially in healthcare-related institutions, and may consider add into their hygiene guideline.