Microbiological burden of public transport vehicles

Year 2017, , 52 - 56, 18.10.2017

Ayşe Seher Birteksöz Tan , Gamze Erdoğdu

https://doi.org/10.5152/IstanbulJPharm.2017.008

Abstract

The goal of this study was to determine the
role of public transport in the transmission of microorganisms. A total of 60
swab samples were collected in the morning and evening from handles in public
transport trams, metrobuses, and buses. Swab samples were examined using
microbiological methods, and the number and types of microorganisms were
determined. Total aerobic bacterial and fungal counts in samples collected in
the evening were higher than those in samples collected in the morning from
trams and metrobuses. However, the total bacterial and fungal counts were very
high in samples collected in the morning and evening from buses. Staphylococcus
aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, and Enterococcus spp. were isolated
from these samples. The results of our study show that public transportation
can be a significant reservoir for spreading pathogenic microorganisms. For
this reason, it is very important to regularly follow cleaning and hygiene
rules and to inspect these vehicles.

Keywords

Microbiological burden, microbial contamination

References

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