Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella
Enteritidis on Currency
The fate of foodborne pathogens Escherichia coli
O157:H7 and Salmonella Enteritidis on coin surfaces was
determined at room temperature (25°C). A five-strain mixture of E.
coli O157:H7 or Salmonella Enteritidis of approximately 5 ×
104 CFU was applied to the surfaces of sterile U.S. coins
(pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters) and to the surfaces of two
control substrata (Teflon and glass coverslips). During storage at room
temperature, E. coli O157:H7 survived for 7, 9, and 11 days on
the surfaces of pennies, nickels, and dimes and quarters, respectively.
However, the pathogen died off within 4 to 7 days on both the Teflon and
glass surfaces. Salmonella Enteritidis survived for 1, 2, 4, and
9 days on the surfaces of pennies, nickels, quarters, and dimes,
respectively. Unlike E. coli O157:H7, survival of Salmonella
Enteritidis was greatest on both Teflon and glass coverslips, with more
than 100 cells per substratum detected at the 17th day of storage.
Results indicate that coins could serve as potential vehicles for
transmitting both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella
Enteritidis.
Fate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella
Enteritidis on Currency. XIUPING JIANG and MICHAEL P. DOYLE, pages
805–807.
Doctors are struggling to fight a lethal bacteria
that is "resistant to virtually every antibiotic."
The bacteria, classified as Gram-negative because of
their reaction to the so-called Gram stain test, can cause severe pneumonia and
infections of the urinary tract, bloodstream and other parts of the body. Their
cell structure makes them more difficult to attack with antibiotics than
Gram-positive organisms like MRSA.
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