ATMs and POS devices as a serious risk factor regarding to human health
Farzad Shayeghi, Esfandiar Matini, Naser Rahbar, Nima Mojri, N Badkoubeh, Sadaf S Hosseini, Mona V Rad, S Kahaki, M Ardestani, Negar Ardestani, H Rahmani, F Kangarani Farahani, M Abdollahi, H Esmaeili, M Bahraei, R Khanlari
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ABSTRACT
Background: Using of Automated
Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (POS) devices can be one of the agents
transmit various microbial and fungal infections in public. In addition because
of its usage and the simplification for
transporting money and the other utilizations such as providing a well
accessibility to personal account for shopping and other activities which
are related and required to displacing
different amount of money, these devices are being preferred to use
increasingly. Thus it is obvious that the severe usage of these devices by
public with different level of health, can be lead to diffusion of such
microbial microorganisms and play an important role in spreading a lot of
illnesses, such as: skin diseases, allergies and etc. which may have many economic
and health consequences to those people.
Aim: To determine the pathogens which have essential roles in
imperiling the social health and recognize the factors of related contamination
and illnesses, they involve thereinafter.
Study design: Descriptive
cross-sectional
Methods: In this survey, a
total of 6360 samples including 2610 ATMs and 3750 POS devices were randomly
sampled from their keyboards and cultured on different culture medias by using
principal scientific sources and standard microbial methods.
Result: The highest rate of
microbial contamination from ATM devices was due to Staphylococcus
epidermidis (17,36%) and its lowest rate was Pseudomonas Spp
(3,22%). In case of POS devices, the highest rate was Staphylococcus
epidermidis (18,53%)and the lowest rate was Pseudomonas
(2,99%).
According to the
results obtained in this study, the microbes which can be transmitted by ATMs
and POS devices to different people, can be harmful to social health and
increasing the rate of related illnesses among people; thus by right informing
and warning people of bad consequences which comes afterward by disregarding
and inobservance to personal and social health as well as using correct
cleaning methods for these devices, can be useful for decreasing the transmission
of infections properly.
Keywords: Microbial
contamination, Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS)
ABSTRACT
Background: Using of Automated
Teller Machines (ATMs) and Point of Sale (POS) devices can be one of the agents
transmit various microbial and fungal infections in public. In addition because
of its usage and the simplification for
transporting money and the other utilizations such as providing a well
accessibility to personal account for shopping and other activities which
are related and required to displacing
different amount of money, these devices are being preferred to use
increasingly. Thus it is obvious that the severe usage of these devices by
public with different level of health, can be lead to diffusion of such
microbial microorganisms and play an important role in spreading a lot of
illnesses, such as: skin diseases, allergies and etc. which may have many economic
and health consequences to those people.
Aim: To determine the pathogens which have essential roles in
imperiling the social health and recognize the factors of related contamination
and illnesses, they involve thereinafter.
Study design: Descriptive
cross-sectional
Methods: In this survey, a
total of 6360 samples including 2610 ATMs and 3750 POS devices were randomly
sampled from their keyboards and cultured on different culture medias by using
principal scientific sources and standard microbial methods.
Result: The highest rate of
microbial contamination from ATM devices was due to Staphylococcus
epidermidis (17,36%) and its lowest rate was Pseudomonas Spp
(3,22%). In case of POS devices, the highest rate was Staphylococcus
epidermidis (18,53%)and the lowest rate was Pseudomonas
(2,99%).
According to the
results obtained in this study, the microbes which can be transmitted by ATMs
and POS devices to different people, can be harmful to social health and
increasing the rate of related illnesses among people; thus by right informing
and warning people of bad consequences which comes afterward by disregarding
and inobservance to personal and social health as well as using correct
cleaning methods for these devices, can be useful for decreasing the transmission
of infections properly.
Keywords: Microbial
contamination, Automated Teller Machine (ATM), Point of Sale (POS)