Isolation of Cultivable Microorganisms from Polish Notes and Coins

Abstract

The potential role of currency in the spread of pathogenic microflora has been evaluated in many countries. In this study Polish paper notes and the coins in general circulation were assayed for the presence of cultivable bacteria and fungi. Bacterial isolates identification was based on cultural and biochemical characters and by comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Fungal isolates were recognized with biochemical and morphological criteria. Coagulase-negative staphylococci, (43.6% of the total bacterial count) including Staphylococcus saprophyticus, S. epidermidis, and S. hominis, and Enteroccus spp. (30.8% of the total bacterial count), i.e. E.faecalis, E.faecium and E. durans, were the most numerous bacterial contamination. Penicillium spp., and Aspergillus spp. were the most frequently detected moulds whereas Candida spp. was the most frequent yeast isolated from currency. A visible dependence between the banknote denomination, the physical condition of paper currency, and the number of bacteria and fungi was found. The overall count of bacteria isolated from currency was thousand-fold higher than that of fungal isolates. The total amount of bacteria and fungi recovered from the coins was approximately 2.7-fold lower than that isolated from the notes. In summary, the Polish currency notes were found to be contaminated mainly with commensal bacteria and fungi while the opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas stutzeri and C. albicans were detected at a low frequency.

Identification of Proteus Mirabilis on Banknotes Using 16s rRNA gene in Khartoum State

“…The 16S rRNA gene that is commonly used for identification and classification of microbes from environmental samples [34,35] was used in this study for identification of banknotes isolates after biochemical tests. Banknotes-associated microorganisms detected previously using 16S rRNA gene [36,37]. It can be used for identification for bacterial strains more accurately than it is possible with phenotypic analysis, allowing identification of strains that are poorly culturable or do not exhibit distinguishable phenotypic traits [12].…”

Bacterial Contamination of Iranian Paper Currency and Their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

“…contaminated microorganisms isolated from Polish paper currencies. 15 Till now, there are few studies on bacterial contamination of paper currencies in circulation and their antibiotic resistance pattern. This study aimed to determine bacterial contamination of Iranian paper currency in circulation and their antibiotic resistance patterns in Kashan, Iran.…”

Contaminação Microbiológica Das Cédulas Monetárias Circulantes Em Feira Livre Do Interior Do Estado Da Bahia

“…Também foi possível observar que houve diferença estatística significante entre o número de UFC/mL das espécies de Candida quando comparadas com as espécies de bactérias entéricas (p = 0,019), sendo que o maior crescimento foi observado nas espécies de Candida. Quando comparado o crescimento das espécies de Candida com as espécies de Staphylococcus, não foi observada diferença estatística (p = 0,969 saliva ou água contaminada durante a contagem das cédulas, manipulação de feridas e secreções nasais durante o manuseio do dinheiro, aerossóis gerados por espirros e tosse e contato com cédulas e moedas, transporte das cédulas entre os sutiãs e a pele e transporte das cédulas nas meias 9,3,11,14,16 .…”

“…Assim, baseado em tantas evidências de práticas que comprometem a manutenção das condições de higiene das cédulas monetárias e moedas é que estudos em diversos países foram realizados principalmente com o intuito de dimensionar a contaminação parasitária e microbiológica desses objetos de valor monetário e verificar o possível impacto dessa contaminação para a saúde da população 8,9,10,3,11,13,14,16 .…”

“…O fato de entrarem em contato com muitos indivíduos diariamente tornam as cédulas verdadeiros reservatórios microbiológicos. É relevante considerar a capacidade das mãos como veículo de transmissão de microrganismos patogênicos entre as pessoas assim como as cédulas monetárias que, devido a grande manipulação, também representam fonte de contaminação e de infecção cruzada 5,6,7 Na literatura mundial existem trabalhos que mostram a contaminação microbiológica do dinheiro de diferentes países evidenciando a capacidade das cédulas monetárias de servirem como fontes de disseminação de microrganismos patogênicos 8,9,10,3,11,4,12,13,14,15,16 .…”