A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION OF INDIAN CURRENCY

Abstract

Fomites are inanimate objects capable of absorbing, harboring and transmitting infectious microorganisms. Dust and dirt that commonly accumulate on such objects contain infectious agents. Since paper currency is widely exchanged for goods and services world wide, money could play a role in spreading bacteria through contact. This study was performed to survey the microbial contamination of money in the form of paper or coins in and around Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh, India, and the possible potential spread of micro-organisms from person to person. In this study 530 notes (Rs.1000, Rs.500, Rs.100, Rs.50, Rs.10 and Rs.5 rupees) and 300 coins (Rs.5, Rs.2 and Rs.1 rupee) were collected from different groups of general community in Srikakulam and Visakhapatnanm and processed for the presence of pathogenic or potentially pathogenic micro-organisms and identified by swabbing and streaking on appropriate media using standard techniques.Contaminated bacterial isolates were as follows: Escherichia coli(8.8%-62.4%), Bacillus spp.( 4.2% -46.8%), Klebsiella spp.( 3.6% -32.4%), Staphylococcusaureus(2.2%-28.4%) ,Coagulase Negative Staphylococci (CoNS)( 1.2%-22.6%) ,Proteus Sps.( 0%-21.2%) , and Pseudomonas spp.( 0%-12.2%). Aspergillus sps.(1.1% to 6%) and Candida sps.(1.1% to 3.4%) were isolated in the present study. Microbial contaminations on coins are less when compared to banknotes. Our results and information from other Studies do suggest that paper currency is commonly contaminated with bacteria and fungi and this may play a role in the transmission of potentially harmful disease producing organisms. According to our study, paper currency may be converted to polymer currency to reduce the possible contamination.