A Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Growth with Earphone Use
| Autor: | Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay, Basak, S., Gupta, S., Chawla, K., Bairy, I. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2008 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Online Journal of Health & Allied Sciences, Vol 7, Iss 2 (2008) Scopus-Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0972-5997 |
| Popis: | Background: Recently the worldwide usage of earphones has increased especially among the school and college students who have a high rate of sharing among them. Alike airline headsets, headphones and stethoscope ear-pieces, ear phones can easily be a vector of potential pathogens, which can give rise to otitis externa. Purpose: To compare the bacterial growth of the external ear in association with earphone and assess the role of earphones as vector or microorganisms. Material and Methods: 50 voluntary male subjects (age 18-25 years) were chosen and divided into two groups, A and B, according to the use of earphones. Swabs were taken from their left ear and the left earpiece of the earphone. Samples were processed as recommended. Results: In group A, bacteria were found in 20 (80%) ear and 14 (56%) earphone swabs. In group B, bacteria were found in 23 (92%) ear and 17 (68%) earphone swabs. Group B showed heavy growth and a significant increase in the number of bacterial growths after frequent and constant use. Conclusion: Frequent and constant use of earphones increases the bacterial growth in the ear and sharing of earphones might be a potential vector of commensals. It is therefore, always better not to share or else to clean the earphones before sharing. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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