Microbial Contamination of Touch Screen Devices

Running head: BIOSCIENCE
BIOSCIENCE
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1
BIOSCIENCE
Project title
Microbial Contamination of the Touch Screen Devices
Null hypothesis
The null hypothesis states that there will be no microbes present on the touch screen
of the mobile phone devices and also on the keyboard of the devices.
Aims and objectives
The occurrence of the bacterial pathogens on the surface of the touch screen mobile
devices needs to be determined.
The types as well as the number of the microorganisms that is present on the surface
of the touch screen phone devices needs to be determined.
Analysis and comparison of the two devices which contains more number of microbes
on the surface area like the keypad device or the touch screen device.
Introduction
Mobile phones have become an essential material goods in the recent times. With the
advancement of the technology, there are more modern smartphones available which makes it
possible for the transfer of any form of language along with the functions like receiving of
messages, emails, chat, surf the web and other such functions. These smartphones available
nowadays are managed through the presence of a glass touchscreen which can be contacted
through finger touch. This makes the touchscreen significantly prone to becoming carriers of
the microorganisms that are present on the hand. While conducting the following research, it
was observed that during the use of the selected devices, not only the fingers, but also the
face, the ear, the mouth and other parts were coming in contact with the screen of the phone.

2
BIOSCIENCE
In the research that was conducted, it was observed that when the keypad device is
considered, it shows similar microbial load. Additionally the mechanical waves along with
the electromagnetic radiations which are given out by the smartphones attracts the presence
of the microorganisms. From the research conducted, it could also be implied that the number
of the microbes present on the surface also depended on the personal hygiene of the user and
also on the environment and the occupational ambience of the user. This could due to the fact
that since the selected device was being used in a clinical environment which is highly
susceptible to harbour large concentrations of microbial populations, this device could have
become an agent of bacterial transmission. The research performed also revealed that
smartphones are also responsible for emission of electromagnetic waves, therefore it also
became important to assess the mechanism with which electromagnetic waves affected the
microbial population that was present on the surface area of the touch screen devices as well
as the keypad phone devices. When the keypad devices were considered in this research, it
was postulated that the keys which were exposed to various microbial population might also
be responsible for cross-contamination especially in case of hospital-acquired infections.
Therefore in order to reduce these, it was important to regularly clean the device and
undertake adequate disinfection practices, in the following research.
This study aims to detect and analyse the microbial load that is present on the surface
area of the screen of these phone devices and also identify the type of the microorganisms
present. Additionally the paper will try to differential and contrast between the microbial load
that is present on the touch screen and the keypad phone device.
Key outcomes/journals/authors
The key outcomes expected from this study is that this research will help to compare
the microbes that are present to the different devices, which will be followed by using wipes