Abstract
Automated Teller Machines (ATM) are visited everyday by millions of people. This machine is accessible to the general public irrespective of class, age or race. The contact point of all ATM machines is the hand which on their own are 'vaults' of microorganisms. An elaborate survey was taken for complete assessment of possible microbial contamination in the Federal Polytechnic Ede campus. Selected ATM machines on campus were used as case study to characterize, identify and determine the degree of bacterial contamination of microorganisms and their potential as reservoir of microbes. Swabs were collected from each ATM screen, buttons, floor, user's hand, and exposure of plates. After collection of the samples, they were plated in nutrient agar. The results showed the presence of increased bacterial count subsequently, most pathogens on characterization revealed the genus of the particular organisms E. coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Salmonella and Serratia. The study showed the potential hazard inherent in ATM machine usage and draws attention to our level of hand hygiene compliance.
Highlights
Microorganisms are very small organisms, which can only be seen with the aid of microscope [1], they have both positive and negative usage roles
The study revealed that high levels of bacterial contamination were detected on electronic hardware user interfaces (ATM) examined in Federal Polytechnic Ede
As at 2011, not much had been reported on bacterial contamination on automated teller machine (ATM) or interfaces used in banks and cybercafes; the pioneering work of Oluduro et al, [28] has led to many studies confirming the relationship between bacterial contamination and ATM machines
Summary
Microorganisms are very small organisms, which can only be seen with the aid of microscope [1], they have both positive and negative usage roles. Microorganisms are ubiquitous and have an amazing ability to adapt to new environments and further multiply in large numbers within a limited time [4] Their ability to adapt and multiply on various surfaces and in different environments is key to their being found on soil surfaces, acidic hot springs radioactive waste water, deep in the earth’s crust as well as organic matter and life bodies of flora and fauna [5]. With this interesting fact in mind, the ready familiarity of microbes with hardware interfaces such as cyber appliances and its users calls for carrying out experimental studies to show the linkages between the three
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