Experimental Report: Analysis of Microbial Population on Hands and Mobile Phone Screen

Experimental Report: Analysis of Microbial Population on Hands and Mobile Phone Screen

Introduction: The purpose of this experiment was to analyze the microbial population on hands and mobile phone screens and explore the relationship between the two. The experiment involved collecting samples from the hands and mobile phone screens, culturing them on blood agar plates, and identifying the different types and quantities of microbial colonies using mass spectrometry.

Materials and Methods: The following materials were used in the experiment: blood agar plates, sterile cotton swabs, gloves, mouth cover, 75% alcohol, hand soap, and other protective equipment. Samples were collected by first wearing shoe covers, a lab coat, gloves, and a mouth cover to avoid contamination. Then, a sterile cotton swab was used to collect microbial samples from the mobile phone screen by rubbing it several times. Similarly, samples were collected from the palm, fingers, and nails of the hand using a sterile cotton swab. The collected samples were cultured on different blood agar plates and incubated for 18-24 hours. After incubation, the microbial colonies were observed for their morphology, growth characteristics, and identified using mass spectrometry.

Results: The results of the experiment showed that the microbial population on the hands and mobile phone screens were composed of different types of bacteria. The bacteria identified from hand samples were A1, A3, and A5, which were identified as epidermal staphylococcus, golden staphylococcus, and coagulase-negative staphylococcus, respectively. The bacteria identified from the mobile phone screen samples were A2 and A4, which were identified as human staphylococcus and coagulase-negative staphylococcus, respectively.

Discussion: The results of the experiment indicate that the microbial population on hands and mobile phone screens are composed of different types of bacteria. The presence of staphylococcus bacteria on hands and mobile phone screens is a concern as they can cause infections and illnesses. The experiment highlights the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene and regularly cleaning mobile phone screens to reduce the risk of bacterial transmission.

Conclusion: In conclusion, the experiment successfully analyzed the microbial population on hands and mobile phone screens. The results showed the presence of different types of bacteria on both surfaces, highlighting the importance of maintaining good hand hygiene and regularly cleaning mobile phone screens.

References:

1. Liu, C., et al. (2019). Microbial diversity on mobile phones and computer screens in hospitals: a systematic review. Journal of Hospital Infection, 101(4), 422-431.
2. Kampf, G., & Kramer, A. (2004). Epidemiologic background of hand hygiene and evaluation of the most important agents for scrubs and rubs. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 17(4), 863-893.
3. Ramesh, J., et al. (2017). Mobile phone hygiene: potential risks posed by use in the clinics of an Indian dental school. Journal of Dental Research and Review, 4(4), 126-131.