Bacterial Load of Virtual Reality Headsets

As commodity virtual reality (VR) systems become more common, they are rapidly gaining popularity for entertainment, education, and training purposes. VR utilizes headsets which come in contact with or close proximity to the user’s eyes, nose, and forehead. In this study, the potential for these headsets to become contaminated with bacteria was analyzed. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to address the potential for microorganisms to be transmitted via VR headsets. The data discussed herein were collected roughly one year prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. We feel it is important to be clear that this study focuses exclusively on bacteria, as opposed to viruses like those responsible for the present pandemic.

The nosepieces and foreheads of two HTC Vive headsets were sampled over the course of a seven-week period in a VR software development course. Serial dilutions were performed, and samples were plated on various culture media. Following incubation, counts of bacteria were determined. DNA was extracted from bacterial colonies and the 16S rRNA gene was sequenced to identify bacterial contaminates present on the headsets. Chief among these contaminates was Staphylococcus aureus. The results of these tests indicated that the Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from the headsets possessed high levels of antibiotic resistance. Other notable bacterial isolates included Moraxella osloensis, the bacteria responsible for foul odors in laundry and, Micrococcus luteus, a communalistic bacterial species capable of causing opportunistic infections. Other bacterial isolates were detected in variable amounts throughout the trial.