ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF INDIAN PAPER CURRENCY NOTES (RUPEE) CIRCULATING IN HAPUR (U.P.), INDIA

Money, which is responsible for solving health problems, can be turned out as a cause of creating health problems. Paper currency, an exchangeable fomite, is constantly subjected to contamination. The objective of this study was to identify the bacteria present on the currency notes circulating in India. A total of 50 currency notes of different denominations (Rs. 5, Rs. 10, Rs. 20, Rs. 50, Rs. 100, and Rs. 500) were randomly collected from 15 different sites like ATM, auto driver, bank, beggars, bus conductor, butchers, college canteen, food seller, general store, medical store, milk dairy, petrol pump, rickshaw puller, vegetable/fruit sellers and wine shop. Persons handling the notes were asked to deposit them in sterile polythene bags. The notes were taken to the laboratory immediately and bacteria were identified using standardized microbiological techniques. 96% of the notes (except ATM notes) collected during this study were contaminated with bacteria like; Bacillus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp., Clostridium sp., Escherichia coli, Actinomycetes sp., Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Salmonella sp. The study suggested that Indian paper currency notes are highly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and this may play a significant role in transmission of infectious diseases. Hence, great care must be taken while handling money during the preparation and handling of food to avoid cross contamination.