1Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
2Global Health, Health Systems and Policy: Medicnes-focusing antibiotics, Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden
3Indian Initiative for Management of Antibiotic Resistance, Department of Environmental Medicine, Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, India
*Correspondence author: Dr. N. Ramesh Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore-632014. E-mail: drpnramesh@gmail.com, M: +91 9843660673
Online published on 19 June, 2018.
Paper currency notes are found to contaminate with microbes and the dissemination of antibiotic resistance is a global health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of multi-drug resistant bacteria in the Indian currency notes
For this study, the Indian currency notes (rupee notes 10, 20 and 50) were collected from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, New Delhi and Gujarat using random sampling technique. The sampling was categorised into; category 1: local markets, beggars, street vendors, conductors, hospitals and Category 2: supermarkets, banks including ATM machines, and hotels
Spread plate technique, specific media and biochemical tests were used for the bacterial isolation and identification. Identification of multiple drug resistance, PCR-based screening of resistance genes and conjugation studies were performed
The total of 75 bacteria was isolated including Bacillus sp., Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Salmonella sp. Multi-drug resistance was observed in 32/75 (43%) isolates and the prevalence of 25% ertapenem-resistant and 21% cefotaxime resistant bacteria was observed. The presence of blaCTX-M-9 in three isolates such as E. coli (two) and Klebsiella sp. was screened and E. coli isolates were found to involve in conjugating its resistance to E. coli AB1157
Our study showed the prevalence of multiple drug resistant bacteria in the Indian currency notes and also in disseminating its resistance.
Antibiotic resistance, Bacterial contamination, extended spectrum beta-lactamases, Indian currency, multiple drug resistance
