Vulnerability of Infants to Infections Due to Contamination of Mobile Phones of Nursing Mothers in Maiduguri Metropolis, Nigeria

The use of mobile phones has rapidly increased globally and it is believed that there are as many mobile phones as there are humans on Earth. Mobile phones, can harbor pathogenic microorganisms especially as a majority of mobile phones are hand-held. The present study investigated the contamination of mobile phones belonging to nursing mothers and the potential health risk to their infants. A total of 180 mothers with infants of not more than 24 months old were randomly selected from different parts of Maiduguri metropolis. A questionnaire was used to generate information on risk factors that may lead to infants’ vulnerability. Swabs samples were collected from mobile phone surfaces and cultured using aseptic techniques. Positive bacterial cultures were observed in 75.56% (n = 136) of the samples collected. The bacterial isolates were identified to be Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp. Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Micrococcus sp. with occurrence rate ranging between 26.47%, and 2.94%. Demographic data showed that infants of 31% mothers were vulnerable to infection and that the ages of infants, ages of mothers, the rate of phone usage, lack of regular cleaning of phones and absence of phone cover may play a significant role to infants’ vulnerability. However, the educational status of the mothers and area of residence had no significant effect on vulnerability. Therefore, there is need to increase awareness among nursing mothers to avoid infants’ contact with mobile phones; and need for regular cleansing of mobile phones using disinfectants.