ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIA DIVERSITY ON SMARTPHONE SURFACES OF STUDENTS IN UMUAGWO UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

Smartphones, as indispensable personal devices, have increasingly been recognized as potential fomites that harbor pathogenic microorganisms and contribute to community-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated the bacterial contamination of smartphones used by students of Biological Sciences at the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo. Twenty smartphones, comprising ten from male and ten from female students, were randomly sampled using sterile swabs, and the isolates were cultured on selective media. Standard microbiological methods, including Gram staining, biochemical tests, and sugar fermentation assays, were employed for identification. The findings revealed high levels of contamination, with Total Heterotrophic Counts ranging between 2.5 X 105 to 4.1 X 106 CFU/ml while Total Coliforms and Staphylococcal counts were as high as 3.6 X 104 and 5.0 X 104 respectively. Escherichia coli (28.5%), Staphylococcus specie (24.2%), Bacillus specie (18.4%), Pseudomonas specie (15.6%), and Micrococcus specie (13.3%) were the isolates identified. The predominance of E. coli indicated poor hand hygiene and fecal-oral transmission risks, while Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas spp. highlighted the presence of opportunistic and drug-resistant pathogens. No significant difference was observed in microbial load between male and female students, underscoring that contamination is widespread irrespective of gender. These results emphasize that smartphones serve as reservoirs for pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria, creating risks of cross-contamination in university environments. It is recommended that universities implement structured health education programs, routine disinfection practices, institutional guidelines on device hygiene, and infrastructural support such as UV-C disinfection stations.