Abstract

A study was carried out to isolate and identify microorganisms associated with currency counting machines and counting room environment in four commercial banks operating in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from currency counting machines and counting room environment in four commercial banks operating in Anyigba, Kogi State, Nigeria. The samples were processed by using standard methods and the results revealed that sixteen (48.5%), of the thirty-three samples analyzed were contaminated by bacteria and fungi. About 70% of all the currency counting machines from the four banks were contaminated with bacteria and 25% with fungi and most of the organisms were isolated from the currency counting machines while currency counting rooms had a fewer isolates or none in some cases. Six different bacterial species were isolated: Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcussp., Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus sp., Proteus sp. and four genera of fungi were isolated: Aspergillus sp., Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp. and Penicillium sp. The identified microorganisms have pathogenic potential and hence their presence on such surfaces could serve as a source of cross-transmission of bacterial and fungal infections in the banks and the general community.

Key words: Microorganisms, currency, counting machines, banks, potential pathogens.