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Journal article
Hospital-Associated Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria on 95 Mobile Phones: An International Metagenomic "Phonome" Analysis
MicrobiologyOpen (Weinheim), Vol.15(3), e70321
2026
PMID: 42316926
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistant healthcare-associated infections present an increasing threat to public safety and the sustainability of healthcare systems around the world. Mobile phones have been highlighted as a fomite that negates hand hygiene and contributes to the dissemination of pathogenic microorganisms in healthcare settings. The objective of the current stidy was to investigate the presence of bacteria, antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes associated with high morbidity on 95 mobile phones within healthcare settings. Next-Generation Metagenomic Sequencing was undertaken and FastQ files were subsequently analyzed within COSMOSid to enable taxonomic identification. Antibiotic resistant genes, virulence genes and bacteriophages were co-located with bacteria associated with the highest global mortality. Antibiotic resistant genes were manually annotated and cross referenced with the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) to identify gene-drug interactions. On average, mobile phones were identified to be contaminated with 3.62 of the top 10 highest mortality-causing bacteria and 2.49 ESKAPE pathogens. A total of 262 unique ARGs, 448 unique VFGs, and 314 bacteriophages were identified. Mobile phones within healthcare settings harbor pathogens alongside genes associated with increased virulence and antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, mobile phones, known to be infrequently sanitized, may increase antimicrobial resistance by providing a contaminated platform which facilitates continued horizontal genetic transfer.
Details
- Title
- Hospital-Associated Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria on 95 Mobile Phones: An International Metagenomic "Phonome" Analysis
- Authors/Creators
- Adrian Goldsworthy - Bond UniversityMatthew Olsen - Bond UniversityNchafatso G Obonyo - Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of MedicinePeter Jones - Bond UniversitySimon McKirdy - Murdoch UniversityAbiola Senok - Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health SciencesRashed Alghafri - University of DubaiRose Ghemrawi - Al Ain UniversityReem Almheiri - University of DubaiOystein Tronstad - Prince Charles HospitalJacky Y Suen - Prince Charles HospitalJohn F Fraser - The University of QueenslandLotti Tajouri - Murdoch University, Harry Butler Institute
- Publication Details
- MicrobiologyOpen (Weinheim), Vol.15(3), e70321
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons; HOBOKEN
- Number of pages
- 21
- Identifiers
- 991005895972307891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health; Harry Butler Institute
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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