DENTISTS’ MOBILE PHONES AS A MEANS OF SPREADING CONDITIONALLY PATHOGENS

Abstract

The aim: The aim of the study was to determine the level of bacterial contamination of mobile phones and watches of dentists. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at the University Dental Clinic and Microbiology Laboratory at the Department of Genetics, Plant Physiology and Microbiology of Uzhhorod National University. Swabs from the investigated surfaces of 30 mobile phones and 30 watches were collected using disposable sterile cotton swabs moistened with sterile saline. The clinical isolates were isolated with the use of differentially diagnostic nutrient media. Results: Studies have shown that cell phones are contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms to a much greater extent than watches. 1518 CFU were isolated from mobile phones, while 375 CFU from watches. The dominant representatives of the microflora of the studied objects were gram positive bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus. Comparative characteristics of the species composition of bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus isolated from mobile phones and watches showed that the dominant species isolated was S.epidemidis. Therefore, studies have shown a high degree of contamination of mobile phones with coagulase-positive bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus, which in most showed hemolytic properties. Conclusions: The patterns identified indicate that mobile phones can play a role in the spread of opportunistic infection.