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

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)



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