Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-32 ! "#a$er% ISSN 222&- '3( ")nline% *ol.3, No.+!

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Bacterial Contamination of Computer Keyboards and Mice in a University Setting

,ala-a Shaw.at Ali/ 0hita1 Ali )2aid Al.he3ali Buthainah 4oha11ed 5aha 6e$art1ent of Biology , 7ollege of Science , Al-4ustansiriya 8ni9ersity, #.).2o: +4 22 , Baghdad, Ira;. /<. 1ail of the corres$onding author= 1icrorose.2>!!?yahoo.co1 Abstract In order to in9estigate the status of 2acterial conta1ination of co1$uter co1$onents , & sa1$les "2& fro1 .ey2oards and 2& fro1 1ice % were collected fro1 the 1ain internet center located in Al-4ustansiriya 8ni9ersity, Baghdad ,Ira;. 6e$ending on the cultural, 1icrosco$ic and 2ioche1ical e:a1inations , A total of &' isolates co1$rising ' 2acterial s$ecies were reco9ered fro1 these sa1$les ,the fre;uencies of occurrence of the s$ecies were@ Bacillus s$$. "2&.42A%, Staphylococcus aureus"+!.B4A%, Staphylococcus epidermidis"+ .+>A%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa "+B.'&A%, Shigella s$$. "+&.2&A%, Klebsilla s$$. "&.+A %, Salmonella s$$. "3.3'A %, Proteus s$$. "3.3'A %, and Citrobacter s$$. "+.>A%. 5hese results indicate that the co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice 1ight act as en9iron1ental 9ehicles for the trans1ission of $otentially $athogenic 2acteria in the uni9ersity settings and also indicate the need for increasing awareness a1ong co1$uter users on cleaning of such surfaces or disinfection and ade;uate hand-washing hygiene. Keywords: Bacterial conta1ination , co1$uter .ey2oards, co1$uter 1ice, uni9ersity setting ,Ira;. 1. ntroduction #eo$le 2elie9e that 1icro2es are only $resent in research la2s or in hos$itals and clinics and thus they ha9e a 1isleading feeling of security in other $laces. Cac. of .nowledge a2out where ger1s $rowl could 2e the cause of health $ro2le1s. In fact ! A of infections are s$read through hand contact with hands or other o2Dects "AlEha1di et al. 2 ++%. 5he $resence of 9ia2le $athogenic 2acteria on inani1ate o2Dects has 2een re$orted 2y earlier in9estigators. Se9eral studies of the hu1an en9iron1ent ha9e de1onstrated coloni3ation and conta1ination of o2Dects such as door handles, faucets, $hones, 1oney, fa2rics and $lastics ")luduro et al. 2 ++%. 7o1$uters continue to ha9e an increased $resence in al1ost e9ery as$ect of our occu$ational, recreational, and residential en9iron1ents. In the uni9ersity en9iron1ent, students ha9e indicated that + A ha9e access to co1$uters, '2.+A regularly use the Internet, and >3.3A regularly use e-1ail. 5o acco11odate the e:tensi9e use of co1$uter technology, uni9ersities ha9e de9elo$ed 1ulti$le-user FFco1$uter la2oratoriesGG on ca1$us for general student access "Anderson H #alo12o 2 '%. 5he increased a9aila2ility of 1ulti$le-user co1$uters in the organi3ation setting 1eans that these ite1s or e;ui$1ent are handled 2y nu1erous users on a daily 2asis. Ei9en that co1$uters are not routinely disinfected, the o$$ortunity for the trans1ission of conta1inating 1icroorganis1s is $otentially great. )ur understanding of the u2i;uity of 1icroorganis1 in the en9iron1ent is de9elo$ing, 2ut the ris. or ha3ard of conta1ination $osed 2y the co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ouse is not yet fully understood. No clear legislation or e9en widely recogni3ed guidelines ha9e 2een for1ulated on the ha3ard caused 2y co1$uter co1$onents "0u1ar H Sri9asta9a 2 +2%.5his is not in the 2est interest of ca1$us students es$ecially that co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice could s$read significant nu12er of $athogens"<ne1uor et al. 2 +2%. 5o our .nowledge ,there are no wor. has 2een re$orted on 2acterial conta1ination on co1$uter e;ui$1ent ".ey2oard and 1ouse% used in uni9ersity settings in Ira;, So the $resent study ai1ed to in9estigate the $resence of 2acteria on co1$uter .ey2oards and co1$uter 1ice that are fre;uently used 2y students in the 1ain internet center of Al-4ustansiriya 8ni9ersity, Baghdad. !.Materials and Met"ods A total of & sa1$les were collected fro1 .ey2oards "2& sa1$les%and 1ice "2& sa1$les%of 1ulti$le-user co1$uters used in the 1ain internet center of Al-4ustansiriya 8ni9ersity, Baghdad , Ira;. A sterile nor1al saline 1oistened swa2s were wi$ed fir1ly o9er the entire surface of the s$ecific o2Dect. <ach swa2 was $laced in + 1l of 2rain heart infusion 2roth"Hi-4edia I India% and incu2ated o9ernight at 3>J7, 9orte:ed for one 1inute and serial ten-fold dilutions was 1ade, + Kl fro1 the last dilution"+ -B% was $lated on nutrient agar and incu2ated o9ernight at 3>J7.<ach colony was $lated on 2lood agar, 4ac7on.ey agar ,eosin 1ethylene 2lue agar and 1annitol salt agar"Hi-4edia I India% then incu2ated aero2ically at 3>J7 for 24 h. 5he $ure colonies of isolates were identified and characteri3ed using standard 1icro2iological techni;ues "Lor2es et al. 2 >%.

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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-32 ! "#a$er% ISSN 222&- '3( ")nline% *ol.3, No.+!, 2 +3

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#.$esults and discussion Nu1erous studies ha9e indicated that co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice can 2eco1e conta1inated with wit $athogenic 2acteria. In health care settings, it is $erha$s not une:$ected that such 1icroorganis1s would conta1inate these co11on wor. surfaces"Anderson H #alo12o 2 '%. 5he $resent study showed that the 2acterial conta1ination also occurs on co1$uter e;ui$1ent ;ui$1ent located in a large uni9ersity en9iron1ent. 6e$ending on 1icrosco$ic, cultural e:a1inations and 2ioche1ical tests, 32 isolates isolates of Era1 $ositi9e 2acteria were identified @ +& of Bacillus s$$., ++of Staphylococcus aureus and B of Staphylococcus epidermidis and 2> isolates of Era1 negati9e 2acteria were identified @ + of Pseudomonas aeruginosa , ' of Shigella s$$., 3 of Klebsilla s$$., 2 isolates for 2oth Salmonella s$$.and Proteus s$$. and one isolate for Citrobacter s$$. "ta2le +%. 5a2le +. Nu12ers of 2acterial isolates fro1 co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice No. of 2acterial isolates fro1 .ey2oards ' 3 B ! 2 3 + + 33 No. of 2acterial isolates fro1 1ice B ! 2 > 2 + 2B 5otal No. of 2acterial isolates +& ++ B + ' 3 2 2 + &'

Bacterial isolates Bacillus s$$. Staphylococcus aureus Staphylococcus epidermidis Pseudomonas aeruginosa Shigella s$$. Klebsilla s$$. Salmonella s$$. Proteus s$$. Citrobacter s$$. 5otal No. of 2acterial isolates

5he isolation $ercentage of Era1 $ositi9e 2acteria was &4.24A & while the isolation $ercentage of Era1 negati9e 2acteria was 4&.>BA "figure +%. Howe9er, 2oth Era1 M9e and Era1 -9e 9e 2acteria ha9e 2een shown to ha9e si1ilar transfer rates fro1 la1inate surfaces to fingerti$s "Scott H Bloo1field 2 !%. Gram negative bacteria 45.76% Gram postive bacteria 54.24% %

Ligure +. Isolation $ercentages of Era1 $ositi9e and Era1 negati9e 2acteria fro1 co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice. As shown in figure 2% fre;uencies of occurrence of the s$ecies were@ Bacillus s$$. "2&.42A%, S. aureus"+!.B4A%, S. epidermidis"+ .+>A%, P. aeruginosa "+B.'&A%, Shigella s$$. "+&.2&A%, Klebsilla s$$. "&.+A %, Salmonella s$$. "3.3'A %, Proteus s$$. "3.3'A %, and Citrobacter s$$. "+.>A%.

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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-32 ! "#a$er% ISSN 222&- '3( ")nline% *ol.3, No.+!, 2 +3

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30 25.42

Isolation percentage (%)

25 20 15 10.17 10 5.1 5 0 3.3 3 3.3 1.7 18.64 64 16. 5 15.25

Ligure 2. #ercentages of 2acterial isolates fro1 co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice. 1ice )9erall Bacillus s$$. was the $redo1inant isolate i followed 2y S.aureus .5he isolation of Bacillus s$$. confir1s the u2i;uitous nature of this 2acteria gi9ing it greater coloni3ation a2ility as well as the a2ility of its s$ores to resist en9iron1ental changes, withstand dry heat and certain che1ical disinfectants for 1oderates $eriods "5agoe H 0u1i-Ansah 2 ++%. S. aureus is a 1aDor co1$onent of the nor1al flora of the s.in and nostrils, which $ro2a2ly e:$lains its high $re9alence as a conta1inant, as it can easily 2e discharged 2y se9eral hu1an acti9ities, acti9 including snee3ing, tal.ing and contact with 1oist s.in. It has also 2een associated with nu1erous infectious disease conditions and nosoco1ial infections. It follows that since users constantly touch interfaces and often snee3e, there is e9ery chance ce of introducing S. aureus on to the interface in use. Also, air2orne organis1s can 2e trans$orted fro1 users or $assers-2y")luduro 2y")luduro et al. 2 ++%. )n the other hand, S.epidemidis which was only isolated fro1 .ey2oards sa1$les is a nor1al ha2itat of the s.in s.in 2ut can occasionally assu1e an o$$ortunistic $athogenic role in causing hu1an infection such as endocarditis "Anastasiades et al. 2 '%. '% )f $articular interest was the isolation of P. aeruginosa and 2acteria 2elonging to of the <ntero2actericeae fa1ily, including Shigella s$$., Klebsilla s$$., Salmonella s$$., Proteus s$$. and Citrobacter s$$. .4ost enteric 2acteria, such as E. coli, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Proteus, are u2i;uitous and that these organis1s can 2e shed fro1 the 2ody, clothing, 2eddings, 2eddings, nostrils and carried in the dust $articles to other surfaces"Itah surfaces" H Ben 2 4%, %, hence their $resence on the co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice. Howe9er, In $laces where there are a lot of $eo$le 1o9ing in and out, such as offices and internet cafNs, there is li.ely li.ely to 2e a good nu12er of $eo$le sic., and through the1 co1es new 2acteria that will e9entually settle on the .ey2oard through air or fro1 $hysical contact "5agoe H 0u1i-Ansah Ansah 2 ++%. In conclusion, the isolation of the 2acteria fro1 co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ouse is a clear indication that the sterili3ationIase$tic $roceduresI1ethods ado$ted 2y the o$erators if at all, is not effecti9e in significantly reducing the le9el of the organis1 on these surfaces to an acce$ta2le le9el "0u1ar H Sri9asta9a 2 +2%.As well as, the le9el of .nowledge a1ong the co1$uter users in co1$uter centers a2out the $ossi2ility of 1icroorganis1s on the .ey2oard and 1ouse is 9ery $oor. 4icro2es are e9erywhere, including the air around us, it is therefore greatly reco11ended that hand-washing hand washing hygiene should 2e ado$ted 2efore and after using the co1$uters to reduce the 1icro2ial trans1ission. 7o1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice should also 2e cleaned with alcohol or other disinfectants on a regular 2asis "<ne1uor et al. 2 +2%. Ac&nowledgment ,e would li.e to than. the staff 1e12ers of the 1ain internet center in Al-4ustansiriya Al 4ustansiriya 8ni9ersity to allow sa1$ling of the co1$uters. $eferences Ashshi A. 4., Laidah, H., Shu.ri, H. H Ji1an-Latani, Ji1an A. A. "2 ++%, Al-Eha1di, A. 0., A2del1ale., S. 4. A., Ashshi, OBacterial conta1ination of co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice, ele9ator 2uttons and sho$$ing cartsP, carts Afr. J.

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Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare ISSN 2224-32 ! "#a$er% ISSN 222&- '3( ")nline% *ol.3, No.+!, 2 +3

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Microbiol. es. &"23%, 3''!-4 3. Anastasiades, #., #ratt, 5.C., Qousseau, C.H., Stein2erg, ,.H. H Jou2ert, E." 2 '%, O Staphylococcus aureus on co1$uter 1ice and .ey2oards in intensi9e care units of the uni9ersitas acade1ic hos$ital, Bloe1fontein and I78 staff-s .nowledge of its ha3ards and cleaning $racticesP, South Afr. J. Epidemiol. !nfect. 24 "2 %, 22-2B. Anderson, E. H #alo12o, <.A."2 '%, O4icro2ial conta1ination of co1$uter .ey2oards in a uni9ersity settingP. Am. J. !nfect. Control 3>, & >-& '. <ne1uor, S.7. , A$eh, 5.A. H )gunti2eDu, ).)."2 +2%, O 4icroorganis1s associated with co1$uter .ey2oards and 1ice in a uni9ersity en9iron1entP, Afr. J. Microbiol. es. B"2 %, 4424-442B. Lor2es, B.A. , Sah1, 6.L. H ,eissfeld, A.S."2 >%, O Bailey and Scott-s 6iagnostic 4icro2iology.+2th ed. P, 4os2y <lse9ier, 7hina. Itah, A.R. H Ben, A.<."2 4%, O Incidence of enteric 2acteria and Staphylococcus aureus in day care centers in A.wa-I2o1 State, NigeriaP, Southeast Asian J. "rop. Med. Public #ealth. 3&"+%,2 2-2 '. 0u1ar, A. H Sri9asta9a, 4."2 +2%, O7o1$uter co1$onents in college and its surroundings enco1$ass the $athogenic 2acteriaP, J. Appl. Sci. En$iron. Sanitation > "+%, 43-4>. )luduro, A. )., 82ani, <. 0. H )foe3ie, I. <."2 ++%, O Bacterial assess1ent of electronic hardware user interfaces in Ile-Ife, NigeriaP, J. Basic Appl. Pharmaceutical Sci. 32"3%,323-334. Scott, <. H Bloo1field, S.L. "2 !%, O5he sur9i9al and transfer of 1icro2ial conta1ination 9ia cloths, hands and utensilsP, J. Appl. Microbiol. B!,2>+-2>!. 5agoe, 6.N.A. H 0u1i-Ansah, L."2 ++%, O7o1$uter .ey2oard and 1ice = #otential sources of disease trans1ission and infectionsP, !nternet J. Public #ealth.+"2%.

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