Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from Mobile Phones of Healthcare Workers at University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital

Mobile phones have emerged as potential fomites for nosocomial pathogens in healthcare environments, posing infection risks to patients and healthcare workers alike. This cross-sectional study isolated and characterized bacteria from mobile phones of healthcare workers at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Rivers State, in the South South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Swabs were collected from the screens and backs of 150 mobile phones belonging to doctors, nurses, and laboratory scientists. Samples were cultured on blood agar, MacConkey agar, and mannitol salt agar. Biochemical tests and the VITEK 2 system were used for bacterial identification. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Bacterial growth was recorded in 89.3 percent of sampled phones. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism at 38 percent of positive samples, followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus species. MRSA was detected in 22 percent of S. aureus isolates. Healthcare workers who did not routinely clean their phones showed higher contamination rates. The study highlights mobile phones as a neglected reservoir for healthcare-associated pathogens. Institutional policies mandating regular phone decontamination with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and hand hygiene compliance are strongly recommended for all clinical units at UPTH. Keywords: mobile phones, nosocomial pathogens, healthcare workers, MRSA, Port Harcourt.