ASSESSMENT OF PERIO PATHOGENIC BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF INDIAN PAPER CURRENCY NOTES IN CIRCULATION: A POTENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH HAZARD.

Back ground :- Paper currency , an exchangeable fomite is constantly subjected to contamination.The objective of this study is to identify periodontal pathogens on currency notes due to salivary contamination in chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and methods :- A total of 100 currency notes of denominations Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100 in circulation were randomly collected from chronic periodontitis patients and were asked to count the currency notes using saliva as is done routinely. This contaminated currency notes placed in sterile envelopes and were taken to laboratory immediately . Results :- Total 100 Indian currency notes were collected and included in the study which were subjected for standard microbiological tests , among those 58% were contaminated , both with pathogenic and non pathogenic organisms. Aerobic bacteria found were Bacillus species(6) , Staphylococcus aureus (10) , Coagulase negative staphylococci (8),Diptheroids (4) , Candida species (2) , E.coli (2) and anaerobic bacteria include Porphyromonas gingivalis (10) , Actinobacillus species (6), Prevotella intermedia (2), Fusobacterium nucleatum (2) , Streptococcus salavarius(2) . Conclusion:- From this present study it is concluded that Indian currency notes are contaminated with pathogenic and non-pathogenic organisms in chronic periodontitis patients.