A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes

M. Olsen; R. Nassar; A. Senok; A. Albastaki; J. Leggett; A. Lohning; M. Campos; P. Jones; S. McKirdy; L. Tajouri; R. Alghafri

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-93622-w

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A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes

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A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes

M. Olsen, R. Nassar, A. Senok, A. Albastaki, J. Leggett, A. Lohning, M. Campos, P. Jones, S. McKirdy, L. Tajouri, …

Scientific Reports, Vol.11(1), Art. 14102

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93622-w

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Abstract

There is increasing attention focussed on the risks associated with mobile phones possibly serving as ‘Trojan Horse’ fomites for microbial transmission in healthcare settings. However, little is reported on the presence of microbes on community derived mobile phones which in 2021, numbered in the billions in circulation with majority being used on a daily basis. Identify viable microbial organisms swabbed from smartphones on a university campus. Entire surfaces of 5 mobile phones were swabbed and examined for their microbial content using pre-agar-based growths followed by downstream DNA metagenomic next-generation sequencing analysis. All phones were contaminated with viable microbes. 173 bacteria, 8 fungi, 8 protists, 53 bacteriophages, 317 virulence factor genes and 41 distinct antibiotic resistant genes were identified. While this research represents a pilot study, the snapshot metagenomic analysis of samples collected from the surface of mobile phones has revealed the presence of a large population of viable microbes and an array of antimicrobial resistant factors. With billions of phones in circulation, these devices might be responsible for the rise of community acquired infections. These pilot results highlight the importance of public health authorities considering mobile phones as ‘Trojan Horse’ devices for microbial transmission and ensure appropriate decontamination campaigns are implemented.

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Title: A pilot metagenomic study reveals that community derived mobile phones are reservoirs of viable pathogenic microbes
Authors/Creators: M. Olsen (Author/Creator) - Bond University
R. Nassar (Author/Creator) - Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
A. Senok (Author/Creator) - Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences
A. Albastaki (Author/Creator) - Dubai Police Scientists Council, Dubai Police, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
J. Leggett (Author/Creator) - Bond University
A. Lohning (Author/Creator) - Bond University
M. Campos (Author/Creator)
P. Jones (Author/Creator) - Bond University
S. McKirdy (Author/Creator) - Murdoch University
L. Tajouri (Author/Creator) - Bond University
R. Alghafri (Author/Creator) - Bond University
Publication Details: Scientific Reports, Vol.11(1), Art. 14102
Publisher: Springer Nature
Identifiers: 991005541802007891
Copyright: © 2021 The Authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: Harry Butler Institute
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.23 Antibiotics & Antimicrobials; 1.23.173 MRSA and VRE
Web Of Science research areas: Infectious Diseases
ESI research areas: Multidisciplinary