Cell Phones Causing Skin Infections
Professor Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona is very interested in what's growing on your cell phone, and we're not talking about your bill. He's been testing cell phones and finding that, in general, they're riddled with germs and bacteria that can cause skin infections. In an informal on-the-street test he ran 11 phones through his "germ meter" test, which counted the number of nasties on the phones. Five of the phones failed that test, meaning they had thousands of types of bacteria. Gerba says that isn't necessarily a problem so long as they all come from your own skin. Once you start sharing a cell phone is when things can get ugly.
This isn't the first we've heard of this, so you'd better take some precautions. Take a disinfectant wipe and rub any surface that might come in contact with your skin, making sure you get into the nooks and crannies. But, whatever you do, don't spray it with cleaner: those microscopic electronics inside don't generally like being misted with conductive liquids.
Of course, you could always use an ear piece or BlueTooth headset and keep the cell phone away from your cheeks entirely.
From CNN
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Denise @ Jul 16th 2007 11:20AM
This is scary. I don't share my cell often, but I do have a family member with MRSA. It is a horrible disease. Once you have you can't get rid of it. Be careful!!!!!
Elizabeth @ Jul 16th 2007 12:51PM
Don't forget to wash the cell phones too as daily cleansing!!!!!!!
MIKE @ Jul 16th 2007 2:22PM
If Anything, Money should cause skin infections. Thats got more jerms on it than anything. With the passing of it from person to person. How many of them don't wash there hands that often. Than pay with there money. Boy, that a jerm passer.
Betsy @ Jul 16th 2007 3:08PM
I can't stand it when people comment on things as if they're so much smarter than the researchers or whoever the article is about and they can't even spell correctly themselves.
MIKE @ Jul 16th 2007 3:12PM
TALK ABOUT GERMS WE TRY TO KEEP THEM DOWN BY WASHING OUR HANDS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM. BUT FAIL TO REMEMBER THE ONES THAT DONT WASH THEIR HANDS TOUCH THE SAME DOOR HANDLE YOU DO WHEN LEAVING "NASTY"
Rose @ Jul 16th 2007 3:13PM
Before cell phones people used public telephones and they must have had many more germs with so many people using the same phone. I don't remember it being a problem. We have become so germophobic.
Ralph Garcia @ Jul 16th 2007 3:39PM
Believe it or not, since cell phones have been out I have heard a good maybe 100 guys using the cellphones in the toilet with them as they take "a dump." I'm usually at the urinal. Only about less than 10 of them have stopped at the sink to wash their hands. Even of the 10, they still didn't stop talking on the phone. I'm wondering if this is how that eColi Spinach outbreak started by some guy taking a cell phone into the bathroom. This is just plain nasty. It hasn't happened in the bathroom of a restaurant yet. If it did, I'd run out of there and never visit that restaurant again unless I wanted to die. Even if he didn't work at that restaurant, he has to touch the door knob or door handle to get out of there. Think about it and how many germs he could spread to make people die.
JoJo @ Jul 16th 2007 3:43PM
The reason why it wasn't such a big problem waaaay back in the day of public phones is that handwashing was something that was taught and expected to be performed even in the school system. In these litigation laden days, if a teacher suggested a child wash their hands, some parent might "freak out" ranting how their child was singled out and sue, so I don't think schools bother anymore....
But, for some reason many people seem to think that washing one's hands after going to the bathroom or before preparing a meal isn't necessary. I guess they have to SEE poop on their hands before realizing their hands "might" be germy and making the big decision to wash up.
Go figure.
KingFella @ Jul 16th 2007 3:53PM
YUCK! Sounds like the answer here is to use a bluetooth device. I can't live without my phone, and I don't share it (only with my boyfriend), but try a bluetooth! Once you go bluetooth you never go back.
JoJo @ Jul 16th 2007 3:59PM
Ralph Garcia says:
Believe it or not, since cell phones have been out I have heard a good maybe 100 guys using the cellphones in the toilet with them as they take "a dump." I'm usually at the urinal. Only about less than 10 of them have stopped at the sink to wash their hands. Even of the 10, they still didn't stop talking on the phone. I'm wondering if this is how that eColi Spinach outbreak started by some guy taking a cell phone into the bathroom. This is just plain nasty. It hasn't happened in the bathroom of a restaurant yet. If it did, I'd run out of there and never visit that restaurant again unless I wanted to die. Even if he didn't work at that restaurant, he has to touch the door knob or door handle to get out of there. Think about it and how many germs he could spread to make people die.
LOL I was beginning to think I was the only one that had issues with this type of behavior. I remember being in the lady's room years ago (when cell phones were much more expensive and fewer people had them) a woman in the stall next to me was peeing, she answered the phone!! I was STUNNED!!
Just like the men Ralph mentioned in his post, if some man called me while he was "taking a dump" I can tell you that that phone conversation would be extremely short as in "I can't believe you would call me while going to the bathroom", say good bye and to not call me again.
People only mention doorknobs, don't forget about the faucet handles. Some people just run their hands under water for a quick blast and that does NOTHING. I turn them on normally, but when it comes time to shut them off and they require twisting, I use my papertowel to shut the water off, then use the same papertowel to open the door if there is a knob. No papertowel? Then I use TP...maybe management will get the hint!
payal @ Jul 16th 2007 4:00PM
Its true. About a year ago i broke out on one side of my face. My dermo told me that it was probably because of the germs phones carry. I began cleaning my phone weekly and guess what....problem solved.
Ive also done some research and am able to say...If public phones are touching your face then you maybe using it wrong, its also why you look at the reciever before you put it to your ear.
Money...you would be suprised how much dirt you would wash off your hands just after 30 mins of handling money. Thats would be why i dont eat or tounch my face if i handle money.
And door handles...we all know about
Sarah @ Jul 16th 2007 4:01PM
I took microbiology when I went to nursing school and you would be "OCD" if you knew what I knew and saw what I saw! Don't let this cell phone article frighten you too much because, the cultures we took for experiments and colonie growth for bateria and culture studies would make you want to live in a bubble because, the entire surface of everything in this world is contaminated with some sort of viral or bacteria substance at all times. Just have good hygene, wash your hands, and drink plenty of weater to flush out any toxicities in your body and you should be just fine. Keep your immune system in good health and your body will be able to fight off most of the infectious micro organisms. Yes, cleaning you cell phone is a good idea! Cleanliness in all areas will keep you at a lower risk of just about any culprit from bacteria to allergins such as dust and dander,etc.
Jessica @ Jul 16th 2007 4:03PM
I always dissinfect my phone with a clorox wipe...everyone should do the same
Jay doll @ Jul 16th 2007 4:08PM
AOL is yanking the germaphobe chain today,
Just ask yourself this, how have we manged to have the phone for over 100 years without any discernable fatalitys?
Of course AOL would like you to go to one of its sponsors for your cleaning needs, they want you to run not walk to the Germicide aisle and buy buy buy ! In reality you should not avoid germs or you will never build up immunities when you need them and get sick all your adult life. Let your kids play in the dirt, it's good for them.
Ed @ Jul 16th 2007 4:12PM
Due respect to Professor Gerba and the study, but this is just another piece of useless information. Who funded this study? The maker of one of the products being promoted to make our lives germ free? The practical approach to personal hygiene is soap and water applied to the hands when returning home and before eating.
K9 @ Jul 16th 2007 4:19PM
My cell phone does not give me a rash,but 411 like this sent to me sure does!
diana11223344 @ Jul 16th 2007 4:30PM
Germophobic.....YES, I agree with Rose, if we aren't spending money on it, they come up with a way to get us scared into spending the $$$ on endless, needless things, and the worry it causes......no wonder our kids are a MESS!!!!!
Heather Johnson @ Jul 16th 2007 4:31PM
Sorry i'm slow, what is MRSA? everyone calm down there are much bigger things to worry about like burning in eternal damnation!
Fat Jay @ Jul 16th 2007 4:37PM
Once I had my friends phone in my ass and once we got it out he used it and did not get any germs from it.
Are you guys serious, why don't you guys get a life and stop with this stupid comments, about dumb topics.
John @ Jul 16th 2007 4:43PM
All this sort of stuff is so stupid. When I grew up I would go out in the street in front of our house and dig up some tar to shhew like gum. Every day a horse drawen milk wagon came by our house and twice a week a horse drawn ice wagon cam by for deliveries. I never got sick, I never get sick now. Maybe eating germs is good for you so your body can recognize them and kill them first, befor they get you.