Background & Aims:  Ear infection is one of the most important infectious chronic diseases throughout the world, and it is likely that the use of tools such as hands-free causes the transfer of microbial flora and aids the activity of pathogenic microbes. This study compares the ear microbial flora of hands-free users with those who have never used the hands-free in Urmia.

Materials & Methods: In this study, regardless of the gender, the ears of 24 people (within the range of 20 to 30 years old) who have continuously used hands-free for 3 years and also the ears of 24 people who have never used hands-free were sampled. The samples were cultured in general and specific environment and by using diagnostic tests, the bacteria were identified.

Results: The bacteria isolated from the ears of those who have never used hands-free included: Lactobacillusus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, staphylococcus saprophyticus and non-hemolytic Staphylococcus, and the bacteria isolated from the ears of hands-free users included: Staphylococcus epidermidis, staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus aurous, D-non hemolytic streptococcus and viridians streptococcus.

Conclusion: This investigation showed that the use of hands-free causes the transfer of the type and abundance of microbial flora in ears. The result of Chi-square data analysis (P <0.05) also suggested the significance of these differences.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2016: 26(10): 922 ISSN: 1027-3727