Cell Phones Breed Staph and Other Bacteria

Millions of people have, and use, cell phones. According to statistics posted by the post-gazette.com website, cell phone usage has exploded from 34 million Americans owning one in 1996 to more than 203 million currently. And many of these subscribers are unaware that their individually used cell phone is a petri dish in their pocket. Some simply think, “oh, those are just my germs, it's not that bad.”

TheKansasCityChannel.com, a subsidiary of ABC, has recently reported findings that there are literally, “tens of thousands of bacteria live on each square inch of a phone, including Staphylococcus aureus (Staph), which can cause pimples or boils, and even pneumonia and meningitis.” According to the report, cell phone handsets are more contaminated than shoes, door knobs and toilets. When you stop and think about the places your phone goes, besides residing in your pocket, purse or briefcase, you can begin to understand the depth of this issue.

How many times have you dropped your cell phone? Any accidental drops in the toilet? Gross, I know, but it happens more often than people want to admit. Do you ever set your cell phone on the counter tops in public bathrooms or on top of restaurant tables? The most disturbing fact of all is that the really harmful germs aren’t even associated with the obscure places that we so often set our beloved piece of communication.

The most harmful bacteria are coming from our very own skin! The bacteria on our faces and hands contribute to the arrival and breeding of bacteria that cause such horrible bacterial infections, such as Staph infection. For more information regarding Staph infection and it’s many cousins, visit www.goaskalice.columbia.edu. The bacterium that causes Staph infection are almost always present on the surface of our skin, and what else is almost always present on or near our skin? That’s right, a brand new, state of the art, cell phone.