Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of microorganisms isolated from Naira notes in Ogbomoso North, Nigeria

Nigerian naira notes (#5, #10, #20 and #50) obtained from different locations and occupational groups in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria were analyzed microbiologically for evidence of microbial contamination using MacConkey Agar, Nutrient Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar and Potato Dextrose Agar. About seven-nine different microorganisms were isolated from the naira notes, while the prevalent microorganisms include; Staphylococcus aureus (3.8 %), Bacillus subtilis (10.1%), Enterobacter aerogenes (8.9%), Staphylococcus epidermidis and Aspergillus niger (11.4%), Bacillus megaterium (12.7%), Escherichia coli (3.8%), Pseudomonas putida and Aeromonas hydrophila (6.3%), Fusarium solani and Colletotrichum truncatum (5.1%), and Trichoderma reesei and Colletotrichum gloesporoides (7.6%). About 75% of the isolates were resistant to the broad spectrum antibiotics and the Multi- Antibiotics resistance pattern among the bacterial isolates ranged from 7 to 11. The fungi isolates also showed resistance to different concentration of Fulcin and Mycoten used (500Mg/l, 250Mg/ml and 100Mg/ml). Zone of inhibition observed with the fungal isolate that is susceptible to those antifungal agents is <15mm.