MICROBES

The rapid adoption of cashless transactions in Nigeria, particularly in bustling commercial areas like the Uselu to Textile Mill Junction, Benin City, Edo State, has led to the widespread use of Point-of-Sale (POS) machines. These devices, frequently handled by multiple users with varying hygiene practices, have raised concerns about their potential as fomites for microbial contamination and the spread of infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to isolate and identify bacteria associated with POS machines, determining their total heterotrophic count, assessing their distribution across different locations, and evaluating their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Swab samples were collected from 20 POS machines (designated POS 1 to POS 20) during peak usage hour. The bacterial isolates were purified and identified based on standard cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. The results revealed significant bacterial contamination, with total viable counts ranging from 5.0 ×10² to 8.1 × 10⁴cfu/ml. The predominant bacterial genera identified were Micrococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Bacillus spp. Micrococcus spp. and Pseudomonas spp had the same percentage occurrence of 21.67% being the most frequent bacterial isolates. The antibiotic susceptibility tests showed varying resistance patterns, with many isolates resistant to β-lactam antibiotics like ampicillin and ceftriaxone, raising concerns about the potential spread of antimicrobial resistance. This study highlights the urgent need for regular disinfection of POS machines, improved hygiene practices among users and operators, and public awareness campaigns to promote hand hygiene, the high microbial loads and presence of resistant strains underscore the public health risks posed by POS machines in high-traffic settings. These measures are critical to reducing the risk of fomite-mediated infections and combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance in community settings like Uselu to Textile Mill Junction