Assessment of Microbial Contamination and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles of Bacteria on Nigerian Currency Notes: Implications for Public Health and Antimicrobial Resistance
Olaleye E.T., Raheem T.Y., Olowe B.M., Adesina F.C., Moshood W.K
South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology · pp. 75–84 · Published 23 Dec 2024
10.9734/sajrm/2024/v18i12409Abstract
Background: Many microbes have been associated with the contamination of Naira notes, and most of these microbes have shown high resistance to antimicrobials, with different resistance profiles including multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pandrug-resistant (PDR). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the microbial contamination and antibiotic resistance profiles of isolated microorganisms on Nigerian currency notes, emphasizing their public health implications. Methods: A total of 112 currency notes, spanning all eight denominations, were collected from rural (Oyan) and urban (Osogbo) regions in Osun State, Nigeria. Microbial isolation and identification were performed using standard culture techniques, while antibiotic susceptibility was assessed via the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Microbial analysis revealed high contamination rates, with Klebsiella sp (35.7% rural, 23.2% urban) and Staphylococcus aureus (28.6% rural, 26.8% urban) being the most prevalent bacterial isolates. Aspergillus sp was the dominant fungal contaminant, particularly in rural areas. Polymer-based notes exhibited lower contamination compared to paper-based notes. Antibiotic susceptibility tests highlighted alarming multidrug resistance (MDR), with Staphylococcus aureus showing high resistance to Penicillins and Cephalosporins. Pseudomonas aeruginosa displayed extensive drug resistance (XDR) to multiple antibiotic classes, leaving limited treatment options. Conclusion: Nigerian currency notes are significant reservoirs of microbial contamination and multidrug-resistant pathogens, posing severe public health risks. The study underscores the need for improved hygiene practices, public awareness campaigns, and a transition to polymer-based notes. Strengthened antibiotic stewardship programs and regulatory measures are essential to combat rising antimicrobial resistance and prevent pathogen dissemination through currency handling.
References (19)
- 1 Antibiotic resistance: a rundown of a global crisis [DOI]
- 2 Defeating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria: Exploring Alternative Therapies for a Post-Antibiotic Era [DOI]
- 3 Drivers of inappropriate antibiotic use in low- and middle-income countries [DOI]
- 4 Current and future perspectives in the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections [DOI]
- 5 Paper Money and Coins as Potential Vectors of Transmissible Disease [DOI]
- 6 Colon Lipoma [DOI]
- 7 Substandard and falsified antibiotics: neglected drivers of antimicrobial resistance? [DOI]
- 8 A systematic review of substandard, falsified, unlicensed and unregistered medicine sampling studies: a focus on context, prevalence, and quality [DOI]
- 9 Microbial Contamination of Currency Notes and Coins in Circulation: A Potential Public Health Hazard [DOI]
- 10 (De)contaminating product preferences: A multi-method investigation into pathogen threat's influence on used product preferences [DOI]
- 11 Microbial Load on Paper/Polymer Currency and Coins [DOI]
- 12 Bacterial contamination of Nigerian currency notes: A comparative analysis of different denominations recovered from local food vendors [DOI]
- 13 Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) identification of the culturable bacterial flora on monetary coinage from 17 currencies.
- 14 Antibiotic resistance mitigation: the development of alternative general strategies [DOI]
- 15 Bacterial Contaminants and Antibiogram of Ghana Paper Currency Notes in Circulation and Their Associated Health Risks in Asante-Mampong, Ghana [DOI]
- 16 Contamination of Nigerian Currency Notes by Escherichia coli in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria
- 17 Assessment of Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Paper Naira Notes [DOI]
- 18 Diversity and Distribution of Fungi Associated with "Ikwe Pond" Water Source: Their Impact on Water Quality and Human Health [DOI]
- 19 Bacterial contamination of Nigerian currency notes circulating within selected markets in Kaduna Metropolis [DOI]
Cited by 0
No indexed citations yet.
Related research
- Survey and Identification of Bacteria and Fungi Associated with Two Dumpsites in Akure Metropolis — shares topic coverage
- Isolation and Identification of Moulds from "Moi-Moi" a Locally Prepared Porridge from Bambara Groundnuts (Vigna subterranea) — shares topic coverage
- Viability of Fungal Spores Isolated from Sorghum Grains Sampled from the Field, Market and Different Storage Facilities in the Six Agro-ecological Zones of Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Exploring Textile Dye from Microorganisms, an Eco-friendly Alternative — shares topic coverage
- Effect of Pre-treatment Methods on the Quality Characteristics of Stored Irvingia kernel — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
42
Page views
0
PDF downloads
11
Outbound clicks
0
Citations
Views over time
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.