title: COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE LEVEL OF BACTERIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION OF AUTOMATIC TELLER MACHINES, PUBLIC TOILETS AND PUBLIC TRANSPORT COMMERCIAL MOTORCYCLE CRASH HELMETS IN KIGALI CITY, RWANDA.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The environments can be contaminated by infectious agents that constitute a major health hazards as sources of community and hospital-acquired infections due to various activities.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A comparative study on the level of bacteriological contamination of automatic teller machines (ATMs), public toilets and commercial motorcycle crash helmets were conducted in Kigali city during the period of January to March, 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected from selected ATMs, public toilets and commercial motorcycle crash helmets surfaces. Micro-organisms identified from these samples were associated to infecting organisms recovered from unwashed hands surfaces and recorded results in the nearby hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from each device and subject were transported to the laboratory where they were analysed for the presence of coliforms and other airborne, human skin and intestinal disease causing microorganisms. Microbiological methods including spread plate techniques and some biochemical tests were used to partially identify the microorganisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects involved in this study were consented students from University of Rwanda and Kigali motorcyclists for collections of samples from hands and crash helmets respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following pathogenic bacteria have been found on the devices, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas. The commercial motorcycle crash helmets had the highest level of bacteriological contamination compared to ATMs and public toilets. There was no growth observed on samples collected after treatment from ATMs, public toilets, and commercial motorcycle crash helmets. Attempt to correlate this finding with infecting organisms recovered from unwashed hands surfaces and recorded results in the nearby hospital show that the presences of some of these infectious pathogens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has revealed the ability of these public devices to serve as vehicle of transmission of microorganisms with serious health implications. To improve and ensure the safety of these public devices the use of disinfectants is of high importance on reducing bacteriological load on those public devices. Proper cleaning regimen to sanitise these facilities regularly and public education on their hygienic usage are recommended to reduce the associated risks.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Nigatu
authors: N S
authors: NS
authors: Fabiola
authors: I J
authors: IJ
authors: Flora
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Mukahirwa
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Omar
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Nsengimana
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nsabimana
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000067012:Banking, Personal; D021902:Enterobacter aerogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006260:Head Protective Devices / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007709:Klebsiella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009049:Motorcycles; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012432:Rwanda; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014038:Toilet Facilities