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Introduction: The advancement of technology has made the cell phone a fundamental part of daily life and a potential carrier of bacteria. Objective: To evaluate the factors associated with the presence of gram-negative bacteria in the cell phones of the merchants of the main market of the city of Huanuco, Peru. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out. The sample consisted of 116 merchants and was obtained by stratified probabilistic sampling. Samples of their cell phones were taken and cultured manually, and sensitivity was determined with antibiogram discs. The instrument was the validated collection card (81%). Stata v.16 software was used for the analysis, using chi-square and Mann Whitney U. Results: 17.2% of the cell phones had growth of Gram-negative bacteria. The bivariate analysis with this variable found that sex, type of cell phone and the longest time of use during working hours were statistically associated (p< 0.05). Conclusions: The female gender, having a cell phone with a keyboard and the highest frequency of use are variables associated with the colonization of gram-negative germs in cell phones of vendors in the Huanuco, Peru market.

Background and Objectives. Multiple studies have evaluated the presence of bacterial contamination on cell phones in clinical settings; however, the presence and transmission of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on cell phones in the community have not been adequately elucidated. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the presence of bacteria resistant to antibiotics on the cell phones of vendors in a Peruvian market and the associated factors. A sample of 127 vendors was obtained through stratified probabilistic sampling using a data collection form validated by experts. Cell phone samples were cultured using a standard technique, and antibiotic sensitivity was determined using the Kirby–Bauer technique. Chi-squared and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to determine factors associated with resistance in cell phone cultures. Results. Among the cell phones, 92.1% showed bacterial growth, predominantly Gram-positive bacteria (coagulase-negative staphylococci and Staphylococcus aureus), and 17% of the cultures showed resistance to at least three antibiotics evaluated. Two strains fell into the category of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and three strains of E. coli had resistance to carbapenems. Conclusions. A short distance between customers and vendors, lack of a cell phone case, and having a cell phone with touchscreen are factors associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria on cell phones.