Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2016) 5(8): 811-817 811 Original Research Article http://dx.doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2016.508.090 Isolation and Identification of Bacteria Associated with Computer Keyboards and Mouse at Various Business Centres in Dutse Metropolis Jigawa State, Nigeria R.H. Muhammad 1 , C.A. Yaro 2* , B. Balarabe Musa 3 and S.B. Safiyya 1 1 Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria 2 Kogi State University, Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria 3 University of Abuja, FCT Abuja Nigeria *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction Computer is an electronic device that is used to accept process, analyze and give out an output. Computers continue to have an increased presence in almost every aspect of our occupational, recreational and residential environments. In various university environments, students have indicated 100% access to computers, 92.1% regularly use internet and 73.3% regularly use e-mail (Palmer and Bray, 2001). To accommodate the intensive use of computer technology, universities have developed multiple-user “Cyber Cafe” on campus for general student access. As the population of such facility increases, there is need to recognize that computer equipment may act as a reservoir for the transmission of potential hazardous or pathogenic bacteria (Hartman et al., 2004). The ability of a computer to act as fomites has been previously documented in healthcare (Huber and Pelon, 2005) and hospital environment (Bures et al., 2000). In International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 5 Number 8 (2016) pp. 811-817 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas.com The present study was conducted to isolate and identify pathogenic microorganisms on the external surface of computer keyboards and computer mice. For this purpose, a total 60 samples were collected from different computer centres of Dutse, Jigawa State. The samples collected were cultured with Nutrient Agar and for further identification they were cultured on the selective media. All 60 samples were found contaminated with pathogenic bacteria (E. coli, B. licheniformis, E. aerogenes, B. epidermidis and Staphylococcus). S. aureus Gram-positive dominated the isolates. The second most common bacterial growth in all samples was B. epidermidis. Potential pathogens isolated from all results indicate that computer mouse and keyboards showed 100% Contaminated in comparison with other objects. The presence of pathogenic and commensal bacteria on these objects indicates that they might act as environmental vehicles for the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Keywords Computer, Keyboards, Mouse, Dutse. Accepted: 18 July 2016 Available Online: 10 August 2016 Article Info