Oeconomia Copernicana

The objective of this research was to determine the level of contamination by Salmonella sp. in the main coins in circulation in relation to the hygiene habits of meat traders in the markets of Huánuco and Paucarbamba-2018. An observational, descriptive prospective cross-sectional study was designed during the period from January to October 2018; having analyzed samples of coins such as 0.50 cents (51/80), one sol (24/80) and two soles (5/80) obtained during the commercial exchange in the markets of Huanuco and Paucarbamba in the Huanuco region. The samples were collected and labeled according to the type of currency denomination and place of collection in sterile bags with hermetic seal (zip lock bags) and kept in cold chain for transfer to the Microbiology Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry of the UNHEVAL where they were processed. A bivariate analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. The results obtained regarding the degree of contamination by Salmonella sp. in the coins were: 49% of the 0.50 cent coins were contaminated by Salmonella sp. followed by 2 soles coins (40%) and 1-sol coins with a contamination level of 16.7%. Significant statistical associations were found between Salmonella sp contamination and hygiene habits such as handling money and meat at the same time (P≤0.031); lack of hand washing (P≤0.013); lack of disinfection of work utensils (P≤0.043) and poor use of disinfectants for cleaning work utensils (P≤0.012). The analysis reveals a high degree of contamination by Salmonella sp, highlighting the potential of coins as fomites for the transmission of microorganisms that can remain viable on their surface.

Keywords: Coins, Salmonella sp., Hygiene habits.

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