Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research

Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 14 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bacterial contamination of computer keyboards and mice, elevator buttons and shopping carts

A.  K. Al-Ghamdi¹, S. M. A. Abdelmalek²* A. M. Ashshi³, H. Faidah³, H. Shukri⁴  and A. A. Jiman-Fatani⁴

¹College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

²Faculty of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Petra, Amman Jordan.

³College of Applied Medical Sciences^, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

⁴King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia.

Accepted 26 September, 2019

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the status of bacterial contamination of four daily used objects, computer keyboards, computer mice, elevator buttons and shopping carts handles. A total of 400 samples were collected from 4 different objects; 100 from each. Samples were collected from different places (offices, internet cafes, homes, buildings and supermarkets) in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 95.5% of the total samples collected were contaminated with mixed bacterial growth. Coagulase-negative staphylococci dominated the isolates. The second most common bacterial growth in all specimens was Gram-positive bacilli. Potential pathogens isolated from all specimens were: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas spp. and Gram negative bacilli. Results indicate that internet café computer keyboards and mice showed 100% contamination in comparison with other objects. The presence of pathogenic and commensal bacteria on the four objects indicates that they might act as environmental vehicles for the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Key words: Bacterial contamination, computers, public surfaces.