Abstract
Raising number of mortals has used automated teller machines (ATMs) over the years, but little is known about their microbial colonization status. Based on this premise, we examined eight out of the nine commercial bank’s ATM in Ekpoma environs for quantification, variability assessment of the bacterial cross contamination and the likely health hazards linked to the users of such cash dispensing machines. A total number of sixteen (16) samples were acquired from eight different commercial banks ATM keypads and screens within the study area, using sterile swab sticks immersed in sterile normal saline. Samples were subsequently transferred to the laboratory section of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma for analyses using standard microbiological procedures for isolation, quantification and identification between the period of September to October 2019. Results showed that the total aerobic bacteria count, Staphylococcus aureus and coliforms counts on both the ATM keypads and Screens ranged from 9.0 × 103±2.65 cfu/m2 to 1.92 × 104±3.61 cfu/m2, 3.5 × 103±1.73 cfu/m2 to 9.8 × 103±4.58 cfu/m2 and 4.8 × 103±1.00 cfu/m2 to 1.08 × 104±2.00 cfu/m2 respectively. One-way Anova depicted a no significant difference (P ˃ 0.05) in the total aerobic bacterial plate count, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus counts in the various banks’ ATM keypads and screens in respectively of the facilities placement and the number of users. The bacteria implicated in this study were Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp, Klebsiella pnuemoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp and Coagulase negative Staphylococcus spp. The findings from this study reveals that high volume of bacterial pollution were detected on ATM hardware user interface which invariably necessitated the need for adequate personal hygiene by both the users and custodians of such machines with a view to reducing the likely hood of spreading contagious agents.
Highlights
An automated teller machine (ATM) is a device that operates on the principles governing the behavior of electrons used for broadcasting messages over a length electronically
Contamination of surfaces and objects in the environment is not unknown of and humans certainly has a high probability of picking up microorganisms from environmental objects with the hands playing a vital part in the transmission of these organisms [12] and the raising frequency of occurrence of antimicrobial immunity by many virulent microbes, the focus of public health management is tinted towards disease prevention as against treatment
The total aerobic bacteria count (ABC) of the ATM samples from the various banks were high ranging from 9.0 × 103±2.65 cfu/m2 – 1.92 × 104±3.61 cfu/m2 ATM keypads of
Summary
An automated teller machine (ATM) is a device that operates on the principles governing the behavior of electrons used for broadcasting messages over a length electronically It allows clients of these money institutions (Banks) to carryout transactions, such as the transfer of funds, cash withdrawals, money deposits or acquiring account information and record, round the clock (twenty four hours every day) with little or no direct physical assistance from a bank personnel [1]. These machines are the longest standing and most widely operated form of computer use by the general public giving comfort to customers [2]. Little or nothing has been done about the study of ATMs in Ekpoma and its environs with respect to environmental quality assessment of virulent microbial contaminations this study is geared towards assessing commercial banks’ ATMs in Ekpoma for bacterial contamination
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