High prevalent bacterial contamination of ATM keyboards in Sari city- north Iran

Background and Aim : Today, one of the most significant factors increasing the risk of hand contamination by antibiotic resistant microorganisms is the use of automated teller machines (ATMs). This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of contaminating bacteria and the antibiotic resistance pattern of the bacterial strains isolated from the keyboard of the ATMs.Methods : In this study, ۲۰۰ samples were collected from ATM keyboards in Sari city by sterile swab before and after disinfection with ۷۰% ethanol. The samples were transferred to the laboratory and different bacteria were identified using standard diagnostic methods. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the bacteria was evaluated by disk agar diffusion method.Results : Bacterial contamination was observed in ۹۷% of the samples. The most isolated bacterium was Klebsiella pneumoniae (۳۶.۰۸%), however lowest frequency (۱.۵۵%) was observed about Bacillus cereus. Also, we funded significantly decreased rate of contamination after disinfection with ethanol. In the case of Klebsiella pneumoniae, ۹۱.۴۲% and ۸۲.۸۵% of the isolates were resistant against tetracycline and ampicillin, respectively. Besides, among the Escherichia coli isolates, the highest resistance rate was detected about ampicillin (۹۰.۲۴%) and tetracycline (۷۸.۰۴%), while none of the E. coli isolates were resistant against imipenem. Also, ۹۵.۰۸% of the Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from ATMs were resistant to ampicillin.Conclusion : The ATMs are one of the most important sources of the spreading communicated associated resistant bacteria. So, it is important to monitor the sale of over-the-counter antibiotics in pharmacies and to avoid the arbitrary use of antibiotics by people to combat this problem.

کلیدواژه ها:

automated teller machines ، keyboards ، antimicrobial resistance