Objectives  To learn the situation of microbial contamination on cell-phones and to search feasible and practical ways for disinfection.

Methods  The habit for using cell-phone was surveyed by questionnaire, and the contamination of coliform bacteria on cell-phones was evaluated according to the National Standard GB/T 18204.3-2002. The disinfection method was conducted according to the "Technical Standard for Disinfection (2002)" by wiping with alcohol and UV irradiation.

Results  The subjects using cell-phones more than 20 times a day accounted for 58%, the subjects washing hands before and after using cell-phone accounted for 6%, and the subjects regularly cleaning and disinfecting cell-phone accounted only for 2%. The results showed that the contamination rate of coliform bacteria on cell-phone was 46%. The contamination of E.coli and staphylococcus aureus on the surfaces of cell-phone could be wiped and disinfected by cotton ball absorbed with 75% alcohol; the average killing logarithm values were 5.41 and 5.54(≥3.00) respectively; the disinfection was qualified in three repeated tests. The contamination of E.coli and staphylococcus aureus on the surface of cell-phone was decreased by UV disinfection machine irradiated for 12 min; the average killing logarithm values were 3.08 and 3.10(≥3.00) respectively; and the disinfection was qualified in three repeated tests.

Conclusions  The hygienic situation of cell-phone is often neglected and the consciousness of cleaning and disinfecting cell-phone was weak in general people. Good habits of using cell-phone, such as washing hands before and after using cell-phone each time and cleaning and disinfecting cell-phone regularly, should be developed to avoid the epidemic of diseases.