Blog Economie Numérique – What nasty bacteria are living on your smartphone right now ?

2023-09-06 08:09:59

It is logical to assume that the dirtiest things a person uses every day are the toilet and street shoes. Indeed, on the rim of the toilet, there is always a huge number of bacteriaamong which there are many potentially dangerous ones that can cause infection. Street shoes also stick to infectious germs, so following going to the toilet and walking, you must be sure to wash your hands with soap and water. Almost everyone follows this hygiene rule, but almost no one washes their hands following using a smartphone. However, some researchers believe that mobile devices accumulate more nasty bacteria than toilets. Now you’ll see for yourself and learn how to keep your smartphone clean.

How much dirt is on smartphones?

Almost every person in the world uses a smartphone every day. That’s why scientists have been studying their impact on human health for a long time. In 2023, it was found out that smartphones make people’s appearance ugly: with frequent use, wrinkles and pimples appear on the face, and a second chin is formed. Once, scientists studied why people are often distracted by a smartphone – the findings were quite interesting.

Scientists have evidence that smartphones cause skin problems

In 2011British scientists took samples from the surface of people’s smartphones and studied them under a microscope. It turned out that the devices of 16% of volunteers have a significant amount of E. coli – bacilliform bacteria that usually live in faeces. When they come into contact with the surface of a smartphone, they are highly likely to make their way into a person’s oral cavity as well. They can then provoke diarrhoea and other diseases.

The approximate appearance of E. coli – they’re probably living on the surface of your smartphone right now

And in 2022scientists studied the surface of the smartphones of 26 healthcare workers. A total of 1307 different strains of bacteria were found on them. In addition, they found many pathogenic fungi and viruses. The fact that doctors’ smartphones turned out to be the dirtiest was not surprising – representatives of this profession often have to interact with infected people.

What bacteria live on smartphones?

Many people’s smartphones are home to E. coli, we already know that. But, according to IFL Science, other pathogens are often found on the surface of mobile devices.

Often found on people’s smartphones are staphylococci, round-shaped bacteria whose colonies look like bunches of grapes under a microscope. Science knows regarding 40 species of staphylococcus, and most of them are harmless to humans. But there are those that, when ingested into the body, trigger inflammatory processes. Infection with staphylococcus can be accompanied by rashes on the skin, food poisoning and respiratory problems. It all depends on the type of bacteria.

Staphylococcus aureus under the microscope

Actinobacteria (actinomycetes), which can cause tuberculosis and diphtheria, are also among the common microbes. Citrobacter provoke the development of urinary tract infections and can lead to sepsis. Enterococci cause a variety of infections, including meningitis.

Citrobacter microscopic

It is important to note that following using smartphones, the above bacteria can enter the body not only when eating with dirty hands. Sometimes it is enough to go to the toilet to get them in the urinary tract and provoke cystitis and other diseases.

How to keep your smartphone clean?

Fortunately, keeping your smartphone clean is not that difficult. After visiting and restroom, they can be gently wiped with 70% alcoholwhich kills most germs. After that, the smartphone should be cleaned with a soft cloth. It is recommended to do the same following walking.

Of course, a modern person may not have enough time to clean the phone constantly. Therefore, you can do it only occasionally, as a preventive measure.

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