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Submitted
March 10, 2026
Accepted
May 12, 2026
Published
June 12, 2026
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Abstract

Background: The widespread use of personal earphones and AirPods as audio devices has increased significantly, particularly among university students. Thus, the concerns about their potential role in carrying microbial contaminants have increased. When the students who share these devices can allow growth of pathogenic microorganisms, particularly when basic hygiene is neglected.


Materials and Methods: About 60 Earphones were gathered from students at Al-Qadisiyah University for both male and female participants. Sterile swabs were used to collect samples from the inner and outer surfaces of the devices. A questionnaire on hygiene practices and sharing habits was performed by participants. The isolates and detection of Staphylococcus aureus of methicillin resistance were confirmed using PCR targeting the nuc and mecA genes as molecular confirmation.


Results: The contamination with microorganisms was distinguished in 93.3% of the samples. S. aureus was the most common isolate (68.3%), also with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) found in 8.3% of samples, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (30%), Escherichia coli (25%), and Candida albicans (20%). While mixed growth of bacterial and fungal was present in 28.3% of devices. The identity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates and the presence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


Conclusion: Earphones that are regularly used by students can lead to opportunistic pathogens.  For this reason, routine cleaning and proper hygiene practices may reduce microbial contamination and minimize potential health risks.

Keywords

Earphones Microbial Isolates Candida albicans Drug Susceptibility Testing Staphylococcus aureus Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

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Copyright (c) 2026 Sura A. Al-Ganahi, Saja Mahdey Jaber, Hanaa Neamah Abdullah, Robeena Farzand (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite
Sura A. Al-Ganahi (2026) “Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Personal Earphones Among University Students in Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq”, Journal of Biomedicine and Biochemistry, 5(2), pp. 1–10. doi:10.57238/jbb.2026.7432.1166.
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Sura A. Al-Ganahi (2026) “Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance Patterns of Personal Earphones Among University Students in Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq”, Journal of Biomedicine and Biochemistry, 5(2), pp. 1–10. doi:10.57238/jbb.2026.7432.1166.
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