Bacteria on Smartphones: Risks and Disinfection

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Biotechnology
12-3-2020

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Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Human Microbiota.....................................................................................................................3
Commonly found Microbes.......................................................................................................4
Effective Disinfection................................................................................................................4
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................5
References..................................................................................................................................6
Introduction

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Smartphone is the need of the time and everybody uses it for their personal and professional
use. People can be seen using smartphones everywhere and anywhere and that has led to its
use in the restrooms and the washrooms as well. Hence, the matter of concern that can be
observed, in this case, is that restrooms and washrooms are a place for a variety of bacteria
and other microbes that can be infectious and harmful. Thus, this report discusses the
presence of these bacteria and the potential infection that can be caused due to their
accumulation on the smartphones that are being used in the restrooms.
Human microbiota
It has been studied by the author Meadow and his colleagues that around 50 percent of the
population use phones in toilets and out of the 15 percent tends to drop it accidentally in the
toilets. Phones and the daily use of carriable devices are the most visible carrier of infectious
diseases and microbes. Settling of bacteria from the feces or the hands on the phones is the
easiest way one can catch infection unknowingly (Meadow, et al., 2014).
To study the effect of the use of phone in the restrooms and its relation with the infection
Martínez-Gonzáles and peers, conducted a stool test in the clinical laboratory, and observed
that the stool or feces of humans contains lots of bacteria and microbes which are harmless as
well as pathogenic in nature. The intestinal microflora is vivid and contains around 400
bacterial species. It contains low frequency of pathogenic bacteria named Clostridium
difficile (Martínez-Gonzáles, et al., 2017). The major types of microbes that are found in the
intestine are obligate anaerobes that are considered as the natural microflora and helps in
protecting the inner lining of the intestine. They are abundantly found in the fecal matter.
Apart from Clostridium, several other bacteria can be observed in intestine or feces which are
harmless such as Bacteroides and other species of Clostridium like
Eubacterium, Lactobacillus and Peptostreptococcus species (Canny & McCormick, 2008).
They are found on the toilet seats, washroom floors, shoes, clothes, and quite many places but
they are harmless and do not cause any damage and infection to healthy human body due to a
stronger immune system to fight back these bacteria (Chodosh, 2018).
Another study by Wilson, states that the feces also contain some bacterial strains of
Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella which can result in minor
infections and are reported by the major carrier of the highly prevalent diseases like diarrhea,
cholera and food poisoning (Wilson, 2018).

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In a research carried out by WHO, it was discussed that the microbial flora that is been found
on the hands is of two types residential as well as transient. Staphylococcus epidermidis is
highly present on the surface of the skin and is a type of residential bacteria. Another group
or species of bacteria that is also found on the skin are hominins, Propionibacterium, derma
bacteria, corynebacterial and many more which are all other forms of staphylococcus.
Pityrosporum species of fungi can also be observed which is not potent enough to cause an
infection in a healthy body but in any sterile body cavity, it may cause infection (WHO,
2009).
Commonly found Microbes
In a research paper published in the Iranian Journal, it was studied that mobile phones,
smartphones or any other device that people carry everywhere is a reservoir of pathogenic
bacteria and microbes. To study this an experiment was carried out which included collection
of the cotton swabs from several sample smartphones. These cotton swab samples were
plated on the nutrient agar plate to observe the growth of the bacteria and other microbes
which would help in studying the presence of types of bacteria that has the potential to settle
on the smartphones. The experiment resulted in finding 6 different types of bacteria on the
smartphones namely Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Abbreviated as MRSS,
Clostridium difficile, Streptococcus, Coliforms, Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS)
Corynebacterium, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (Morubagal, et al., 2017). Apart from these
several yeasts and molds are also present that can be harmful. These microbial strains can
cause various infectious diseases ranging from diarrhea to Diphtheria while food poisoning to
fungal infections (Opfer, 2020).
Effective Disinfection
The author of The Maids website suggests several ways that can be implemented in cleaning
and sanitizing the smartphones or any other devices which could be pool for microbes.
Cleaning them regularly would prevent transmission of bacterial or fungal infections and
reduced chances of their settling on the devices. The phones, laptops or any other electronic
items cannot be cleaned with running water, hence the use of damped and moist microfiber
cloth is the best way to clean them (The Maids, 2019).
Lopez and collogues suggests that devices must be cleaned thoroughly after removing the
covers, sleeves and tempered screens regularly. The crevices or the cavities must be cleaned
using the cotton swabs. Instead of regular water, different solutions with vinegar, sanitizer,

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isopropyl alcohol must be used to disinfect it easily. In most cases, it is restricted to use
bleach, glass cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, ammonia, and makeup remover as they can cause
damage to the screens and display of the gadgets (Lopez, et al., 2020). Apart from
disinfecting gadgets, it is equally important to clean hands at regular intervals throughout the
day. Washrooms and toilets must be sterilized routinely using strong detergents and cleansers
to avoid bacterial settlement and transmission (Thompson, 2020).
Conclusion
This report discusses about the bacteria and microbes present in the hands and the fecal
matter of a person as a part of natural human microbiota as studied by the researchers.
However, the majority of them are harmless and cause no as the human body is quite immune
against these microbes they can be found everywhere and are not just limited to toilet seats or
the washroom floors but can be found settled in the clothes and house floors and walls.
However, there are several other microbes and bacteria as well which can be easily spotted on
the devices and phones which are harmful and infection-causing agents as smartphones are
the subtle and visible carriers of these infectious bacteria which can lead to diseases and
illnesses. Hence, they must be disinfected regularly to avoid infection transmission.

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References
Canny, G. O. & McCormick, B. A., 2008. Bacteria in the Intestine, Helpful Residents or
Enemies from Within?. American Society for Microbiology, 07, 76(8), pp. 3360-3373.
Chodosh, S., 2018. You cannot escape poop bacteria. [Online]
Available at: https://www.popsci.com/poop-is-everywhere/
[Accessed 13 03 2020].
Lopez, V. A., Liew, J. Y., Pahirulzaman, K. . A. K. & Sim, K. Y., 2020. A study of microbial
distribution and cell phone hygiene awareness. Songklanakarin J. Sci. Technol, 42(1), pp. 65-
72.
Martínez-Gonzáles, N. E. et al., 2017. Microbial contamination on cell phones used by
undergraduate students. Canadian Journal of Infection Control, 32(4), pp. 211-216.
Meadow, J. F., Altrichter, A. E. & Green, J. L., 2014. Mobile phones carry the personal
microbiome of their owners. Peer Journal, 24 06, Volume 2, p. 447.
Morubagal, R. R., Shivappa, S. G., Mahale , R. P. & Neelambike , S. M., 2017. Study of
bacterial flora associated with mobile phones of healthcare workers and non-healthcare
workers. Iranian journal of microbiology, 06, 9(3), p. 143–151.
Opfer, C., 2020. Top 10 Germs on Your Smartphone. [Online]
Available at: https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/cellular-microscopic/top-10-germs-
smartphone5.htm
[Accessed 13 03 2020].
The Maids, 2019. How to Safely Clean and Sanitize Your Electronics. [Online]
Available at: https://www.maids.com/blog/how-to-safely-clean-and-sanitize-your-electronics/
[Accessed 13 03 2020].
Thompson, C., 2020. Here's how to clean your electronic devices without damaging them.
[Online]
Available at: https://komonews.com/news/consumer/heres-how-to-clean-your-electronic-
devices-without-damaging-them
[Accessed 13 03 2020].
WHO, 2009. WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care: First Global Patient Safety
Challenge Clean Care Is Safer Care. Geneva: World Health Organization, p. 5.
Wilson, D. R., 2018. What Happens When You Eat Poop?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-happens-if-you-eat-poop#1
[Accessed 13 03 2020].