Antibiogram of Bacteria Isolated from Automated Teller Machines Within Abakaliki Metropolis

The Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) is likely to be contaminated with various microorganisms due to their vast dermal contact by multiple users. The metallic keypads of ATMs were examined to investigate their potentials as source of bacterial contamination and also the antibiogram of the isolated organisms. The study lasted from August, 2012 to October, 2012 involving several procedures like culturing, identifying the organisms using biochemical tests and Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method for antibiotic sensitivity tests. Swabs from the keypads of 20 ATMs were examined and the results indicated the contamination of the keypads with Staphylococcus aureus 9 (50%), Klebsiella species 6 (33.3%) and Escherichia coli 3 (16.7%). The antibiogram were ascertained using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and the result showed that Staphylococcus aureus was 89% resistant to ampicillin, followed by penicillin (78%), nalidixic acid (78%) and augmentine (70%), while 33% and 30% were susceptible to peflacine and gentamycin respectively. Klebsiella species were 100% resistant to erythromycin, followed by tetracycline (83%), penicillin (83%), ampicillin (83%) and nalidixic acid (70%) but showed high level susceptibility to cotrimoxazole (65%), ciproflocacin (64%) and augmentine (64%). Escherichia coli were 100% resistant to tetracycline and penicillin, followed by augmentine (90%) and ampicilin (85%), but 70% susceptible to ceporex, followed by peflacine (65%) and ciprofloxacin (65%). Hand washing and proper cleaning regimen should be practiced to reduce contamination on the ATMs.