Microbial Contamination Of Indian Currency Notes From Different Community Source

Abstract

Paper currency notes are continuously contaminated by poor handling and poor storage practices. Microorganisms may live on paper currency for longer periods of time. Paper currency notes may represent a good medium for the transmission of microbes in the environment and humans. These microbes may cause infectious disease. This study was to determine the bacterial contamination of Indian currency notes at Chennai. This study was started from September 2020 to February 2021 in the Central Research Laboratory (CRL) of MAHER, Chennai.

A total of sixty-five Indian currency notes of four denominations (10, 20, 50, 100) were collected from twenty-six different sources such as Automated teller machine (ATM), Beggar, Bus conductor, College canteen, Fish shop, Fruit shop, General store, Hotel, Meat shop, Medical shop, Petrol bunk, Public toilet, Tea shop, Vegetable shop, Wine shop, Auto driver, College student, Clinic, Lab, Hospital, Traffic police, Street food shop, Textiles show room, Bank, Post office, Temple. The samples were collected in sterile polyethylene bags using gloves were taken and carried to the lab within 24 hours for further processing. All samples of currency notes had microbial contamination.

A total of 93 bacterial strains and 79 fungal strains were isolated from collecting samples of Indian currency notes. From these isolated samples, 11 different genera of bacteria and 6 different genera of fungi were identified on the basis of cultural characteristics and biochemical characteristics. This study showed that the microbial contamination of different sources of Indian currency notes. And this study was to evaluate the most prevalent bacteria and fungi.