Bacterial contamination of Iranian paper currency

Background: transmission of human pathogens can be occurred via inert objects. paper currency is a further common contact surface whereby pathogens can be transferred within a population although the significance remains unknown. hence,the aim of the present study was to investigate microbial populations associated with iranian paper currency. methods: this study was carried out by getting 108 samples of the iranian currency notes (1000,2000,5000,10000,20000 and 50000 rials) from food-related shops that included food service outlets,greengrocery,supermarket,bakery,confectionary and poultry meat retail outlets. all currency notes were examined for total bacterial count and identification of pathogenic bacteria. results: the average total bacterial count that was recovered from currency notes was found to be 3.27±0.31 colony forming unites. 2000r had the highest total bacterial count,followed by 5000r,10000r and the lowest in 50000r. in this study,the isolated bacteria recovered were bacillus cereus (8.33%),e. coli (48.14%),staphylococcus aureus (28.7%),salmonella (0.92%),listeria monocytogenes (0.92%),yersinia entrocolitica (6.48%). it was revealed that all the pathogens screened for where encountered on currency notes were recovered from one sample. there were no significant (p>0.05) correlations between the carriage of pathogens/fecal indicator bacteria and currency note condition. conclusion: our findings demonstrate that iranian currency notes represent a significant vehicle for human pathogens.