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.
What is coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19)? Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread
from person to person. The virus that causes
COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus that was first
identified during an investigation into an outbreak
in Wuhan, China.
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