Isolation and identification of microorganisms from public and semi-public multi-user video gamepads with respect to hygiene and disinfection measures

Abdullah Alfarhan; Muhammad Poyil; Saad Alshahrani; Elmutasim Ibnouf; Maged Abdel-Kader; Abdullah Alfarhan; Muhammad Poyil; Saad Alshahrani; Elmutasim Ibnouf; Maged Abdel-Kader

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2026028

AIMS Public Health

2026, Volume 13, Issue 2: 546-560. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026028

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Research article

Isolation and identification of microorganisms from public and semi-public multi-user video gamepads with respect to hygiene and disinfection measures

1.
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj 16273, Saudi Arabia
2.
Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia
3.
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
4.
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 173, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia

Received: 02 December 2025 Revised: 25 February 2026 Accepted: 12 March 2026 Published: 27 April 2026

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the possible role of multi-user video gamepads in spreading microbial populations among users and understand how to reduce this risk. The study design involved 10 public locations in Al-Kharj city and 10 semi-public locations inside the campus of Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Air samples were collected from all selected places once during the study using a passive air sampling technique. Semi-public places with a good aeration system and a regular cleaning routine showed much less airborne organisms than public places with less care. Samples from the multi-user video gamepads were taken from each gamepad three times during a period of two weeks. Each time, one sample was taken before any intervention, and another sample was collected after disinfection with commercial alcohol swab pads containing 70% isopropyl alcohol. All samples were examined for the number of viable organisms. The mean microbial count ranged from 98 to 270 CFU in public locations and from 18 to 34 CFU in semi-public locations. Samples collected from semi-public places showed 3 bacterial genera and were free from fungi, while samples from public places showed 9 bacterial and 4 fungal genera. After disinfection of the multi-user video gamepads in the public places, the number of colonies reached a maximum of 8 CFU (approximately 97% reduction), while the semi-public places expressed a 91% reduction in the number of organisms. The results obtained demonstrate the importance of following hygiene measures in multi-user objects to reduce the risk of infection transmission.
- video gamepads,
- microorganisms,
- disinfection,
- public,
- semi-public
Citation: Abdullah Alfarhan, Muhammad Poyil, Saad Alshahrani, Elmutasim Ibnouf, Maged Abdel-Kader. Isolation and identification of microorganisms from public and semi-public multi-user video gamepads with respect to hygiene and disinfection measures[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2026, 13(2): 546-560. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2026028

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Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the possible role of multi-user video gamepads in spreading microbial populations among users and understand how to reduce this risk. The study design involved 10 public locations in Al-Kharj city and 10 semi-public locations inside the campus of Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia. Air samples were collected from all selected places once during the study using a passive air sampling technique. Semi-public places with a good aeration system and a regular cleaning routine showed much less airborne organisms than public places with less care. Samples from the multi-user video gamepads were taken from each gamepad three times during a period of two weeks. Each time, one sample was taken before any intervention, and another sample was collected after disinfection with commercial alcohol swab pads containing 70% isopropyl alcohol. All samples were examined for the number of viable organisms. The mean microbial count ranged from 98 to 270 CFU in public locations and from 18 to 34 CFU in semi-public locations. Samples collected from semi-public places showed 3 bacterial genera and were free from fungi, while samples from public places showed 9 bacterial and 4 fungal genera. After disinfection of the multi-user video gamepads in the public places, the number of colonies reached a maximum of 8 CFU (approximately 97% reduction), while the semi-public places expressed a 91% reduction in the number of organisms. The results obtained demonstrate the importance of following hygiene measures in multi-user objects to reduce the risk of infection transmission.

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University for funding this research work through the project number (PSAU/ 2025/03/34939).

Authors' contributions

Conceptualization: A.A. and M.A.; Methodology: M.P. and E.I.; Investigation: A.A. and M.P.; Data curation: A.A., M.P. and E.I.; Validation: A.A., M.P. and E.I.; Visualization: A.A., M.P. and E.I.; Formal analysis: A.A., S.A. and M.A.; Resources: A.A. and S.A.; Writing – original draft: A.A., M.P. and E.I.; Writing – review & editing: M.A.; Funding acquisition: M.A.; Supervision: S.A. and M.A.; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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