%A Chiranjay Mukhopadhyay
%A Soham Basak
%A Soham Gupta
%A Kiran Chawla
%A Indira Bairy
%J Online Journal of Health and Allied Sciences
%T A Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Growth with Earphone Use
%X 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
%N 2
%K Bacterial profile, ear, earphone, student
%E Dr. Srinivas Kakkilaya
%V 7
%D 2008
%I Dr. B.S. Kakkilaya
%L cogprints6200

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