Microbiological analysis of banknotes circulating in the Venda region of Limpopo province, South Africa

E. O. Igumbor; C. L. Obi; P. O. Bessong; N. Potgieter; T. C. Mkasi

Microbiological analysis of banknotes circulating in the Venda region of Limpopo province, South Africa

E. O. Igumbor^*, C. L. Obi, P. O. Bessong, N. Potgieter, T. C. Mkasi

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We examined used and new banknotes in various denominations, circulating in the Limpopo province of South Africa, for the presence of microorganisms using the rinse method. Used banknotes were collected from open-air markets, banks, filling-stations, supermarkets, residential homes and hostels. Bacteria and/or fungi were isolated from 96% of the used banknotes, and none from the new (control) notes. Twelve bacterial and one fungal species were isolated, with Staphylococcus epidermidis (13%), Candida albicans (13%), Klebsiella species (11%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11%) being the most prevalent. The low-denomination notes (R10 and R20) were the most contaminated. Infected currency is identified as a potential public health hazard, as pathogens can be spread by circulating banknotes. Immunocompromised persons stand the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections, such as C. albicans, through handling of contaminated currency.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	365-366
Number of pages	2
Journal	South African Journal of Science
Volume	103
Issue number	9-10
Publication status	Published - 2007
Externally published	Yes

Cite this

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title = "Microbiological analysis of banknotes circulating in the Venda region of Limpopo province, South Africa",

abstract = "We examined used and new banknotes in various denominations, circulating in the Limpopo province of South Africa, for the presence of microorganisms using the rinse method. Used banknotes were collected from open-air markets, banks, filling-stations, supermarkets, residential homes and hostels. Bacteria and/or fungi were isolated from 96% of the used banknotes, and none from the new (control) notes. Twelve bacterial and one fungal species were isolated, with Staphylococcus epidermidis (13%), Candida albicans (13%), Klebsiella species (11%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11%) being the most prevalent. The low-denomination notes (R10 and R20) were the most contaminated. Infected currency is identified as a potential public health hazard, as pathogens can be spread by circulating banknotes. Immunocompromised persons stand the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections, such as C. albicans, through handling of contaminated currency.",

author = "Igumbor, {E. O.} and Obi, {C. L.} and Bessong, {P. O.} and N. Potgieter and Mkasi, {T. C.}",

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T1 - Microbiological analysis of banknotes circulating in the Venda region of Limpopo province, South Africa

AU - Igumbor, E. O.

AU - Obi, C. L.

AU - Bessong, P. O.

AU - Potgieter, N.

AU - Mkasi, T. C.

PY - 2007

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N2 - We examined used and new banknotes in various denominations, circulating in the Limpopo province of South Africa, for the presence of microorganisms using the rinse method. Used banknotes were collected from open-air markets, banks, filling-stations, supermarkets, residential homes and hostels. Bacteria and/or fungi were isolated from 96% of the used banknotes, and none from the new (control) notes. Twelve bacterial and one fungal species were isolated, with Staphylococcus epidermidis (13%), Candida albicans (13%), Klebsiella species (11%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11%) being the most prevalent. The low-denomination notes (R10 and R20) were the most contaminated. Infected currency is identified as a potential public health hazard, as pathogens can be spread by circulating banknotes. Immunocompromised persons stand the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections, such as C. albicans, through handling of contaminated currency.

AB - We examined used and new banknotes in various denominations, circulating in the Limpopo province of South Africa, for the presence of microorganisms using the rinse method. Used banknotes were collected from open-air markets, banks, filling-stations, supermarkets, residential homes and hostels. Bacteria and/or fungi were isolated from 96% of the used banknotes, and none from the new (control) notes. Twelve bacterial and one fungal species were isolated, with Staphylococcus epidermidis (13%), Candida albicans (13%), Klebsiella species (11%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11%) being the most prevalent. The low-denomination notes (R10 and R20) were the most contaminated. Infected currency is identified as a potential public health hazard, as pathogens can be spread by circulating banknotes. Immunocompromised persons stand the risk of acquiring opportunistic infections, such as C. albicans, through handling of contaminated currency.

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Microbiological analysis of banknotes circulating in the Venda region of Limpopo province, South Africa

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