Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria and Fungi from Some Saudi Bank Note Currency

Abdulmoniem M. A. Saadabi, Mohammed S. Alhussaini, Abdullah A. Al-Ghanayem, Babu Joseph and Mohammed S. A-l Shuriam

College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, Shaqra, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/bbra/2499

ABSTRACT: Saudi Bank notes in different values were critically evaluated to show the level of contamination with pathogenic bacteria and fungi using standard techniques. The fungal genera Trichophyton sp., Microsporum sp., Epidermophyton sp., Aspergillus sp., Alternaria sp., Penicillium sp., Candida sp., Phycomyces sp., Saccharomyces sp. and Cladosporium sp. were isolated and identified. The genera of bacteria that isolated were Escherichia coli, Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella sp., Proteus sp., Streptococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Corynebacterium sp. and Staphylococcus sp. The potential of Saudi currency notes to act as environmental vehicles for transmission of pathogenic fungi & bacteria was assessed. The lower values of bank notes were highly contaminated and there is a negative correlation between bank notes value and microbial contamination. The results suggest that currency notes may be contaminated, especially with bacteria and enteric microbes and may serve as a source of contamination or infection. Personal hygiene and electronic or credit banking to reduce the risk of infection were recommended.

KEYWORDS: currency; bank notes; microbial contamination; bacteria; fungi

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