Antibiotics susceptibility pattern of culturable bacteria species from automated teller machines in Enugu urban, Enugu State, Nigeria.

Automated teller machine (ATM) remains an easy and fast means of financial transaction, yet a reservoir for the dissemination of microbial species. This study is aimed at determining the antibiotics susceptibility pattern of culturable bacteria species from automated teller machines in Enugu urban, Enugu State. Twenty swab samples of metallic keypad of ATM were collected and screened for the presence of culturable bacteria species using standard microbiological procedures. Developed colonies were identified using colonial features, Gram staining and microscopy, and biochemical characteristics. Identified isolates were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility to ten commonly prescribed antibiotics using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The isolates were identified as Escherichia coli (45.8%), Staphylococcus aureus (37.5%), Bacillus spp. (8.3%), Coliform bacteria (4.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.2%) in the order of occurrence. E. coli were resistant to penicillin (100%), norfloxacin (90.9%), erythromycin (81.8%), clindamycin (72.7%), augmentin (72.7%), chloramphenicol (63.6%), ceftazidime (63.6%), and ciprofloxacin (54.6%) except for cefuroxime and vancomycin where sensitivity was above 50%. S. aureus showed over 60% sensitivity to the quinolones (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin) but high resistant rate to the β-lactams (cefuroxime (100%), ceftazidime (88.9%), penicillin (88.9%), and augmentin (77.8%)). The study reveals that ATM serves as a non-human agent for the transmission of multiple drug resistance (MDR) opportunistic bacterial pathogens, especially E. coli and S. aureus. We recommend the maintenance of adequate personal hygiene, use of alcohol hand sanitizer, and frequent handwashing practices as a means to curb the spread of MDR pathogen from ATM keypads.