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@article{196104,
        author = {Polycarp Ndikvu CHIA and Wirba Bertrand Maimo and Seba Francis Dzekewong and Laura Leinyuy and Che Roland Achungu and Chongwain Bisherine Naya},
        title = {An Institution-Based Assessment of Students’ Hygiene Practices of Currency Notes: Evaluating Public Health Risks and Microbial diseases Transmission Pathways},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {11},
        pages = {16118-16127},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=196104},
        abstract = {Background: Studies from different regions of the world have conformed microbial contamination of banknotes in circulation. Banknotes are used by people of all walks of life, often without regard for money hygiene, thus increasing the chances of being an agent of disease transmission. The handling of banknotes by students with unhygienic hands and their exchange from person to person can significantly contribute to the transmission of infectious diseases, especially in the post COVID-19 era. 
Methods: An investigation to determine the health risk associated with handling banknotes in circulation was carried out among students in Catholic University of Cameroon CATUC Bamenda, Cameroon. Permission was obtained from the University, and each participant freely consented. one hundred and fifty banknotes of the five different denominations of CFA frs were collected randomly and analyzed microbiologically and biochemically using procedures previously used in similar studies for the presence of microbes.
Results: All the banknotes were found to be contaminated by both bacteria and fungi species. The most common bacterial contaminants were Staphylococcus spp (48%), Streptococcus spp (30%), and Bacillus spp (20%), while the most common fungal contaminants were yeast (29%), Penicillium spp (28%), Aspergillus spp (26%), and Mucor spp (17%). These results indicate that banknotes are suitable fomites capable of absorbing, harboring, and transmitting infectious microorganisms.
Conclusion: The Banknotes in circulation in the Catholic University of Cameroon are likely agent for disease transmission. Hygiene practices during or after handling currency is greatly encouraged to prevent infection.
Recommendations: flowing water, soap hand sanitizes and towels should be provided in all classes and students residential areas Further research should be conducted to explore the effectiveness of potential interventions to reduce microbial contamination on banknotes. In future, more complex study using molecular methods would be required to accomplish further investigation on the antibiotic resistance pattern, plasmid profile and pathogenicity of the isolates obtained},
        keywords = {Banknotes, Microbial Contamination, Disease Transmission, Public Health˜},
        month = {April},
        }