Bacterialogical examination of coins and evaluation of the results concerning public health

This study was made on April 2007, in Eskisehir, in order to make microbiological analysis of coin samples taken from the sources with high circulation and evaluate the results of the investigastion in terms of public health. In our study, 50 coins were used and this money was collected by random sampling method. 25 of the money was taken from school canteens, 25 of them were taken from different sellers in bazaar. Samples were examined in 4 groups according to the place where they were taken. Samples which were taken from vegetable seller (5 EA 1 YTL) were named as Group 1, samples from fruit seller (12 EA 50 YKR, 8 EA 25 YKR) were named as Group 2, samples from primary school canteen (12 EA 50 YKR and 8 EA 25 YKR) were named as Group 3 and samples from high school canteen (5 EA 1 YTL) were named as Group 4. Microbiological analysis were performed on coin samples. According to results of analysis, all of the samples were found dirty with at least one microorganism. Microbiological distribution was; Difteroid species (50 %), Aerob gramme positive bacillus with spor (40 %), stafilokok koagülaz positive (36 %), stafilokok koagülaz negative (32 %), Streptecoc spp. (32 %), Escherichia coli (38 %), Klebsiella spp. (12 %), Proteus spp. (32 %). As a consequence, it is examined that coins could be contaminated with enteries patogen and potential patogen bacteria; more detailed studies are needed to determine the importance of this situation for public health. Key words: Bacteria, bazaar ,coin, contamination, school