Journal of University of Duhok, Vol. 19, No.1 (Pure and Eng. Sciences), Pp 107-113, 2016 107 MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF CELL PHONES AMONG MEDICAL STAFF AT AZADI TEACHING HOSPITALAND HEVI PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL /DUHOK, IRAQ JANAN M. SALIH * , ALAA T. MONAWER ** ,SHILAN S. SALEEM *** * College of Medicine, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq ** College of Nursing, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq *** College of Health Science, University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region-Iraq (Received: November 18, 2015; Accepted for publication: June 30, 2016) ABSTRACT Background: The widespread use of cellular mobile devices especially in medical staff that are working in hospitals help to spread the pathogenic organisms. Objective: The study was done to investigate microbial contamination of cellular mobile devices among medical staff at Azadi Teaching Hospital and Hevi Pediatric Hospital /Duhok. Materials and methods: A total of (200) samples were collected from mobile devices of medical staff in Azadi Teaching Hospital and Hevi Pediatric Hospital/Duhok. Swab samples (Sterile moistened) were taken and revolved over the surface (both sides) of the cellular mobile devices and inoculated into nutrient broth at 37°C for 24 then sub-cultured on agar media such as: nutrient agar , MacConkey agar, Mannitol salt agar, blood base agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar. Organisms was Identified depending on colonies features, Gram stain, followed by biochemical tests. Results: Out of 200 samples examined, (100%) were contaminated with single or multiple organisms. Six species of bacteria were detected involved: (42%) Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, (39 %) for each Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus spp., (4 %) E. coli, (3 %) Klebsiella spp. (2.5 %) Proteus spp and Candida spp. (1.5%). Samples taken from medical lab showed high rates (52%) of mixed growth compared with (42.42%), (16.67%) and (12.28%) from pharmacists, physicians and nurses respectively. Also samples taken from female recorded higher contamination rates (72.9%) compared with male (69.89%). Conclusion: the study shows high bacterial and fungal contamination of mobile phone among medical staff at Duhok city and emphasized on control of transmission of contamination through mobile phones. KEY WORDS: Microbial contamination, Cellular mobile, Medical staff INTRODUCTION ellular mobile phone devices can act as reservoirs for microbes that are associated with healthcare-associated infections and are routinely transferred into the operating halls by medical staff 1 . Many researchers have studied the survival of bacteria on the surface of immobile objects like: stainless steels, plastic and computer keyboards; most of these studies had shown that these surfaces are comparatively not toxic to bacteria. They concluded by stressing the potential roles that immobile objects could play in harboring and transmitting pathogenic bacteria 2-3 . The human skin is steadily in contact with environmental microbes and easily colonized by certain species of microbes 4 . The normal flora of the skin include; Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, Diphtheroids, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococci, Bacillus spp., Mallassesia furfur and Candida spp. Occasionally include Enterobactenaceae, Pseudomonas spp and Mycobactenium spp. The normal flora may be beneficial in their normal location in the host in the absence of coincident abnormalities. They can produce disease condition if introduced into compromise host or foreign locations 5 . In a study, Ramesh et al, 2008, published that (88% - 89.5%) of study operatives never cleaned C