Transmission of Antibiotic-Resistant Enterococcus faecalis through Currency Notes

Enterococci have continued to attract considerable attention as emerging pathogen of public health concern. The present study therefore investigates the roles of Nigeria currency in the spread of drug resistant Enterococcus faecalis strains in the community. Of 130 currency samples collected from three locations including; food-markets, motor-garage, and hospital premises, 69 (53%) were positive for Enterococcus faecalis. Higher percentage (62.69) of currency notes from food marketers were positive for Enterococcus faecalis, followed by currency notes from motor-garage (47.22%) and the least (37.04) from hospital arena. Antibiograms of 246 E. faecalis strains recovered from the total samples reveal 113 (45.93%) resistant to cloxacilin, 101 (41.06%) resistant to erythromycin, 123 (50%) to cotrimoxazole, 131(53.25%) to amoxicillin, 59(23.98%) to chloramphenicol, 87(35.37%) to tetracycline, 119(48.37%) to augmentin, 52(21.14%) to gentamicin and 10(4.07%) to vancomycin. Resistance to the fluoroquinolones tested was in the order; levofloxacin 35(14.23%), ciprofloxacin 39(15.85%), norfloxacin 45(18.29%), spafloxacin, 48(19.51%), and perfloxacin 48(19.51%). This study has revealed that Naira currencies in circulation in the study area are highly contaminated by potential pathogens that can lead to spread of infection. Hence, the need for vigorous enlightenment of the populace on regular hand-washing exercise and other hygiene practices. The habit of applying saliva on fingers for counting currency notes should be totally discouraged.