ABSTRACT
The environmental surfaces play an important role in the spread of pathogens and infectious diseases. Human are particularly susceptible to pick up microbes from environmental objects, especially from publicly and regularly used objects. The Automated teller machines (ATMs) are very likely to be the reservoir of different kinds of microorganisms, both pathogenic and non-pathogenic. In our study, we investigated the microbial contamination of multiple ATM machines in Jazan region. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study which was conducted between September to November, 2021. A sum of 42 sample were collected which yielded a total of 15 isolated bacterial species that was identified as follows: Bacillus spp. (73%), CoNS. (15%), Staphylococcus aureus (14%), Pseudomonas luteola (12.5%), Pantoea agglomerans (10%), Acinetobacter baumannii (7.5%), Escherichia coli (5%), Enterobacter cloacae (5%), and other 5 Gram negative species (total of 12.5%). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates to commonly prescribed antibiotics showed that the highest resistant species are S. aureus (44%), CNS (48%) and E. coli (40%), while all the other bacteria showed varied degrees of resistance to the antibiotics tested. These results suggest that ATMs machines may play a role in transmission of drug resistant bacteria in Jazan, therefore, creating a public health risk. Intriguingly, our study comes after a large-scale and intense hygienic COVID-19 awareness programs. Hence, there is an urgent need to implement and improve hygienic practices and regulation when using such public machines.