Bacteria found on banks automated teller machines (ATMs)

Increasing number of people have used automated teller machines (ATMs) by years, but we know less about their bacterial colonization status. For this purpose, we performed bacterial swab cultures from a total of 100 ATM devices in our city. All devices were found positive for Bacillus spp., and coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) were isolated from nine devices, including one methicillin resistant strain. Staphyloccocus aureus grew in two devices, where one of them was identified as methicillin resistant (MRSA). Three devices were found positive for Escherichia coli. Our results suggest that ATMs might be potential areas for pathogen accumulation, and they might have a role in microbial transmission in the community.   Key words: Bacteria, automated teller machines (ATM), public health.