Study of Microbial Contamination of Mobile Phones of Dental and Medical Students and Its Potential Epidemiological Implications for Microbial Transmission.

BACKGROUND

Mobile phones are widely used by healthcare students during clinical training and may act as potential reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to investigate and evaluate the role of mobile phones as epidemiological factors in the transmission of microorganisms in medical and dental practice.

METHODS

A cross-sectional epidemiological and microbiological study was conducted between September 2025 and April 2026. A total of 125 mobile phones belonging to fourth-year dental students and fifth-year medical students were examined. Samples were collected from the entire phone surface and cultured on blood agar, eosin-methylene blue agar, and Candida chromogenic agar. Participants also completed a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, clinical experience, hand hygiene practices, and mobile phone use and cleaning habits.

RESULTS

No microbial growth was detected in 52.8% of samples on blood agar, while 44.8% showed growth below 105 CFU of coagulase-negative staphylococci and 2.4% showed growth ≥105 CFU. Minimal growth was detected on eosin-methylene blue agar (0.8%). Fungal contamination was identified in 2.4% of samples, exclusively among students who reported touching their phones with contaminated gloves. Statistically significant associations were observed between microbiological growth and students' specialty, duration of clinical experience, and contact with mobile phones while wearing contaminated gloves (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Touching mobile phones with contaminated gloves was significantly associated with microbial growth. These findings emphasize the need for targeted infection control education and stricter guidelines regarding mobile device use during clinical training.