Computer mice in public centers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to detect the presence of, isolate and identify certain pathogenic bacteria from computers mice in a public university computer center. For this purpose, ten computer mice were randomly and aseptically sampled, from a big number present in a public computer center in the Beirut area. Standard microbiology laboratory methods were used to detect the presence of two potentially pathogenic bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. As expected 100 % of the samples tested grew a big number of bacteria, but the growth of both organisms from 60% of the samples and one of them in 10 % of the remaining sample (indicating the isolation of each of the organisms from 70% of all the samples), warranted alerting the society of such a dangerous source of contamination. Recommendations regarding personal hygiene and proper disinfection of computer mice in public centers should be respected as the study proved that these might be the source of numerous community acquired infections.