@misc{cogprints6200, volume = {7}, number = {2}, month = {July}, author = {Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay and Soham Basak and Soham Gupta and Kiran Chawla and Indira Bairy}, editor = {Dr. Srinivas Kakkilaya}, title = {A Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Growth with Earphone Use}, publisher = {Dr. B.S. Kakkilaya}, year = {2008}, journal = {Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences}, keywords = {Bacterial profile, ear, earphone, student}, url = {http://cogprints.org/6200/}, abstract = {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} }