Public Health Implications,microorganisms Associated With Naira Currency

Microorganisms on the surface of any currency note, can either be through direct (hand-to-hand contact) or indirect (food or other inanimate objects) means. To ascertain the degree of bacterial load enumerated during the handling of money and food items, particularly on currency note by denominations, should be of public health importance. Despite the available literature regarding microbial contamination of Nigerian currency notes, there is still paucity of information about how microbial contamination differs across the denominations. This study was undertaken to investigate microorganisms associated with naira currency in regard to public health. Twenty five different naira currencies ranging from 20, 100, 200, 500 naira and mints currency, which was used as a control. The notes were collected from Keke riders, road side food vendors, Motorcycle riders, road side petty traders, and local market traders. The notes were chosen on the basis of denominations and physical appearance (Mint, Neat, dirty, very dirty and mutilated).The currencies were evaluated for microbial contamination using Nutrient Agar (NA) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) via pour plate technique. The microbial isolates were characterized based on macroscopy, microscopy, biochemical features, and lactophenol cotton blue staining for fungi. The lower denominations: 20 and 100 yielded higher microbial growth as revealed in the Colony Forming Unit per milliliter (CFU/mL); 6X102 and 4X102, respectively. The bacterial species identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a yeast-like Candida species was also identified. The most common bacterium identified was Staphylococcus aureus from 20 naira, which also harbored all the bacteria and fungus isolated in this study. This study has revealed that lower denomination of currency is more contaminated due to its high usage in transaction and carelessness of the handlers. The presence of pathogenic bacteria and yeast poses a threat to mankind in terms of public health evaluation. It is therefore advised that money should be handled in a manner that does not get contaminated with dirt, disease-causing agents or become unduly mutilated