ABSTRACT
Mobile phones have become one of the most crucial accessories of professional and social life. Globally, they are the most widely used technological devices for communication. However, despite their immense benefits, they could serve as veritable reservoirs of bacteria thereby facilitating the spread of infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the bacterial isolates associated with mobile phones of meat sellers in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
Ninety- six (96) samples were collected from mobile phones of meat sellers in four (4) major Markets (Edaiken, New Benin, Oba and Ogida) in Benin City. The mobile phones of the meat sellers were sampled in the morning (8am-10am) and in the evening (4pm- 6pm) for a period of 4 months (September, 2018 to December, 2018) and analysed for the presence of bacteria which were enumerated and isolated. The bacteria isolates were identified based on cultural, morphological and biochemical characterization. Antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out using Kirby Bauer Disc Diffusion methods. The Plasmid profile of the bacterial isolates was also determined.
The results obtained from the study revealed that the mean total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 1.07± 0.22 x 104 cfu/ml in New Benin Market to 5.60 ± 0.12 x 104 cfu/ml in Edaiken Market. The mean total coliform counts ranged from 0.60 ± 0.15 x 104 cfu/ml in Ogida Market to 4.63 ± 0.61 x 104 cfu/ml in Oba Market. The total Staphylococcal counts ranged from 0.27±0.09 x 104 cfu/ml in Oba Market to 3.00± 0 ± 1.30 x 104 cfu/ml in New Benin Market. The highest bacterial counts were recorded from samples obtained in the evening (4pm- 6pm). Seven bacterial isolates were isolated and characterized and include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp. The percentage frequency of occurrence revealed that Staphylococcus aureus had the highest frequency of 21.6% while Enterococcus spp. had the least frequency of 3.1%. The seven bacteria isolates were reported to be multidrug resistant to all antibiotics employed except Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus epidermidis, which were 100% susceptible to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and streptomycin. One hundred percent (100%) of all bacteria isolates showed multiple antibiotic resistance index greater than 0.2, an indication that the isolates were of serious public health significance. The plasmid profile analysis revealed that Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp. possessed plasmids. Upon curing, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp. became sensitive to ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin, while Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp. were also reported sensitive to gentamicin, amoxicillin clavulanate and erythromycin. The presence of bacteria associated with human infections on mobile phones of meat sellers revealed their potential as fomites, that could serve as a veritable source of disease outbreaks, resulting in infections with serious public health implications. It is therefore imperative that proper handling of the telecommunication devices should be encouraged.
