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Should we leave the paper currency? A microbiological examination
M Demirci1, Y Celepler, S Dincer
1Mehmet Demirci, Beykent University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, 34520, Istanbul, Turkey. demircimehmet@hotmail.com.
Summary
Banknotes harbor various pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA and VRE. This study highlights the hygienic risks of paper currency, suggesting it may contribute to pathogen and antimicrobial resistance spread.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Public Health
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Human unhygienic habits can lead to pathogen transmission via banknotes.
- Paper currency circulates widely, potentially acting as a vehicle for microbial contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify pathogens present on circulating banknotes.
- To determine the antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors of these detected pathogens.
- To assess the public health implications of contaminated currency.
Main Methods:
- Collected 150 banknote samples between August 2017 and March 2018.
- Utilized VITEK systems for microbial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- Employed real-time PCR to detect specific antimicrobial resistance genes (mecA, van, ESBL, carbapenemases) and staphylococcal virulence genes (SEs, pvl, tsst-1).
Main Results:
- Detected various microorganisms including Staphylococcus aureus (48%), CoNS (54.7%), Enterococcus spp. (56%), Gram-negative enteric bacteria (21.3%), non-fermentative Gram-negative bacteria (18.7%), and Candida spp. (4%).
- Identified significant proportions of resistant strains: Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) at 46.8%, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) at 1.3%, and ESBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria at 28.7%.
- Found virulence genes such as staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) in 100% of S. aureus and 87.8% of CoNS, with the sea gene being most common. Detected pvl and tsst-1 genes in S. aureus and CoNS.
Conclusions:
- The study underscores the poor hygienic status of paper currencies.
- Banknotes can serve as a significant reservoir for pathogens and contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance.
- Consideration of alternative, potentially safer, payment methods is warranted to mitigate public health risks.
