Bacterial and Fungal Contamination of Saudi Arabian Paper Currency and Cell Phones

Alwakeel, Suaad S.; Nasser, Laila A.

doi:10.3923/ajbs.2011.556.562

Cited by 25 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The isolation of both bacteria and fungi from currency as demonstrated by our study shows that currency could play an important role in the transmission of microbial agents in the community and thus presents a public health threat. Contamination of currency in our study is higher than reported in currencies in other developing countries like Nigeria, 52.5% [15], Nepal, 75% [26] and Saudi Arabia 72.3% [27] but comparable to the 94% reported in the United States [12] and lower than 100% recently reported in Ghana [20] and Pakistan [28]. These differences reflect differences in hygienic practices and handling of currency in different areas and also show that microbial contamination of currency is a global problem.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Public health implications of contamination of Franc CFA (XAF) circulating in Buea (Cameroon) with drug resistant pathogens

et al. 2014

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BackgroundStudies in different parts of the world have implicated money as a vehicle for transmission of pathogens. Such information which is necessary to facilitate infection control strategies is lacking in many sub-Saharan countries including Cameroon. This study analyzed the Franc de la Communauté Financiere d’Afrique (Franc CFA), the currency used in Cameroon and other countries in the Central African sub-region, as a potential vehicle for transmission of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, particularly drug-resistant strains, to generate findings which could create awareness on currency contamination and serve as a guide when formulating health policies on currency.MethodsTwo hundred and thirteen currency samples representing various denominations of notes and coins randomly collected from diverse sources in Buea, Cameroon were analyzed for bacteria and fungi. The sensitivity of bacterial isolates to antibiotics was tested using the disc diffusion method. The relationship between contamination and physical state, source or denomination of currency was assessed using the χ2 test. All statistics were discussed at 0.05 significance level.ResultsTwo hundred (93.9%) samples were contaminated with notes (96.6%) showing higher contamination than coins (88.2%). Uncirculated (mint) samples showed no contamination. There was a significant difference (P˂0.05) in contamination with respect to currency denomination, physical state and source. All samples from butchers and patients/personnel in hospitals were contaminated. Lower denominations showed significantly higher (P = 0.008) levels of contamination than higher denominations. Dirty currency was more contaminated than clean currency. Nine bacterial species were isolated. Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (54.9%) and Staphylococcus aureus (20.1%) predominated. Among the fungi detected, Aspergillus sp (17.3%) and Penicillium sp (15.9%) showed higher frequency of occurrence. Bacteria were susceptible (100%) to ceftriaxone, gentamicin, norfloxacin and ofloxacin. Susceptibility to amoxicillin, penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin and cotrimoxazole was low. Staphylococci were resistant (100%) to vancomycin, penicillin G, and amoxicillin. CoNS in addition showed resistance (100%) to cotrimoxazole.ConclusionsThe CFA franc circulating in Buea could serve as a vehicle for transmission of drug resistant pathogenic or potential organisms and contamination could be due to currency usage and handling as mint notes were not contaminated. Hygiene practices during or after handling currency is greatly encouraged to prevent infection.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Public health implications of contamination of Franc CFA (XAF) circulating in Buea (Cameroon) with drug resistant pathogens

et al. 2014

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“…In a survey in Saudi Arabia, it has been shown that all bacterial species were susceptible to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, and in agreement with our results, resistance was seen against ampicillin in Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter iwoffii and Staphylococcus warneri. 17 Finally, the present study revealed that the bacterial contamination among Iranian paper currency in circulation especially those obtained from certain sources including shops and bus stations is high and in most cases, these bacterial isolates are antibiotic resistant strains. Although here the clinical importance of bacterial contamination of currency notes is not investigated, transmissions of these bacteria especially antimicrobial resistant strains to immunosuppressed people may lead to serious infections, and they are notable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…This finding is almost in agreement with the report of Saudi Arabia by Alwakeel and Nasser. 17 However, higher levels of contamination were reported by Basavarajappa et al 4 in India and Pope et al 18 in the United States. Bacillus spp was the most common bacterial isolates in our contaminated currency notes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Bacterial Contamination of Iranian Paper Currency and Their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

Firoozeh

Dadgostar

Akbari

et al. 2017

Int J Enteric Pathog

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Background: Paper banknotes would be a vector for transmission of pathogenic microorganisms through handling. Objective: This study aimed to determine bacterial contamination of Iranian paper currencies in circulation and their antibiotic resistance patterns. Materials and Methods: In this study, 337 currency notes of different value were collected from markets, shops, restaurants, bus stations and banks in Kashan, Iran during April 2015 to March 2016. The currency notes transferred to microbiology laboratory and were tested for bacterial contamination using standard microbiological methods. Antibiotic resistance patterns of isolated bacteria were determined by disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. The results and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of 337 currency notes, 262 (77.7%) were identified with bacterial contamination. Bacteria isolated from currency notes were as follows: Bacillus spp 113 (43.1%), coagulase-negative staphylococci 99 (37.7%), Escherichia coli 20 (7.6%), Enterococci species 14 (5.3%), Staphylococcus aureus 8 (3.1%), Klebsiella spp 4 (1.5%), Shigella species 2 (0.8%), and Pseudomonas species 2 (0.8%). The most and least contaminated currency notes were 50000 and 500 Rials, respectively. The highest resistance rates in gram-negative rods were against nalidixic acid, and ampicillin. However, the highest resistance rates in S. aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci and Enterococci species were against ampicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline. Conclusion: Our study revealed that the bacterial contamination among Iranian paper currency in circulation especially those obtained from certain sources including shops and bus stations is high and in most cases these bacterial isolates are antibiotic-resistant strains.

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“…Money is any medium of exchange that is widely accepted in payment for goods, services and in settlements of debts. Paper currency is widely exchanged for goods and services in countries worldwide [1]. It also serves as a standard of value for measuring the relative worth of goods and services [1].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Paper currency is widely exchanged for goods and services in countries worldwide [1]. It also serves as a standard of value for measuring the relative worth of goods and services [1]. Modern scientific techniques have confirmed these theories and have shown that viable pathogenic organisms (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) can be isolated on the surfaces of both paper and coin currency [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Kenyan Bank Notes Circulating in Nyeri Town

Muguongo

Nyamache

Maingi

2019

MRJI

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Aims: The aim of this study was to characterize bacteria isolated from circulating Kenyan banknotes and also antibiotic susceptibility profiles within Nyeri County. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional study and simple random sampling was used to collect 25 of each paper currency denomination. Place and Duration of Study: Samples analyses were done at Outspan Teaching and Referral Hospital (OTRH) laboratory, between March, 2019 and April, 2019. Methodology: Total of 125 currencies of five different denominations were collected from different marketing sources such as Butcheries, Restaurants, Health facilities, Mpesa outlets and Transport Saccos and dropped in sterile bags. The bacterial isolates were characterized on the basis of their morphology, staining and biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique. Results: Total of 19 different bacterial species were isolated from five Kenyan Bank note currencies. Of these, 37 (52.2%) was Staphylococcus aureus followed by Staphylococcus sciuri ssp.lentus 7 (9.9%), Staphylococcus gallinarum 2 (2.8%), Staphylococcus intermedius 6 (8.5%), Micrococcus sp. 1 (1.4%), Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp.coagulans 2 (2.8%), Staphylococcus sciuri ssp.rodentium 1 (1.4%), Kluyvera ascorbata 1 (1.4%), Proteus penneri 1 (1.4%), Aeromonas media 3 (4.2%), Burkholderia cepacia ssp.komplex (1.4%), Aeromonas enteropelogenes 1 (1.4%), Enterobacter cloacae 1 (1.4%), Klebsiella oxytoca 2 (2.8%), Leclercia adecarboxylata 1 (1.4%), Raoultella ornithinolytica 1 (1.4%), Vibrio metschnikovii 1 (1.4%), Myroides odoratus 1 (1.4%) and Yersinia pestis 1 (1.4%). Overall gram positive and gram negative bacterial isolates exhibited resistance to vancomycin, clindamycin and amoxycilin with percentages 40 (71%), 28 (50%), and 37 (66%) and 9 (64%), 8 (57%) and 6 (43%) respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that Kenyan banknote currencies circulating in Nyeri County were contaminated with different pathogenic and potential pathogenic bacteria including multi drug resistant strains. Hence, great care must be taken while handling money during the preparation and handling of food to avoid cross contamination.

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Bacterial and Fungal Contamination of Saudi Arabian Paper Currency and Cell Phones

Cited by 25 publications

References 12 publications

Public health implications of contamination of Franc CFA (XAF) circulating in Buea (Cameroon) with drug resistant pathogens

Public health implications of contamination of Franc CFA (XAF) circulating in Buea (Cameroon) with drug resistant pathogens

Bacterial Contamination of Iranian Paper Currency and Their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Isolated from Kenyan Bank Notes Circulating in Nyeri Town

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