This money needs laundering! TikTok scientist reveals the invisible bugs lurking on dirty notes

By William On Mar 31, 2023

A lab scientist reveals the hidden world of bacteria in TikToks that sheds light on the germs lurking on our personal belongings.

Shocking videos from TikToker @Micromani2023 have exposed the invisible microbes crawling all over our banknotes, phone screens and even drinking fountains.

The researcher, whose real name is Amani Abdlrasul, is a Tampa, Florida medical lab scientist by day and an influencer by night with more than 60,000 followers on the platform.

The 39-year-old tests about 700 samples every day in a Florida lab to identify the diseases patients may be suffering from.

But even Amani was baffled by the germs she found on a $100 bill, sharing that some of the unusual “creepy and slimy germs” were simply unidentifiable.

Now Amani has started testing everyday objects for bacteria on her TikTok page @micromani2023

She posted, “I patted a $100 bill on blood agar and incubated it for 24 hours. Part of the bacteria is Staphylococcus species. The creepy and slimy looking ones I have no idea what they are. I’m ready for digital currency.”

While the Staphylococcus bacteria is often harmless, in severe cases it can cause pneumonia, heart problems, and bone infections.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, infections can be particularly dangerous in healthcare settings.

Public toilet seats, drink machines and even phone screens have been tested by Amani in her TikTok videos.

As part of bacteria testing, sterile swabs and grafting needles are often used to take swabs from samples.

These are then gently rubbed over agar jelly before growing in an incubator for 24 hours and 48 hours.

Speaking to MailOnline, Amani said, “We get a lot of culture plates. Wounds, urine cultures, sinuses, things like that. We get the plates, we have to incubate them for about 24 hours for the bacteria to grow. We’ll review them after 48 hours.

“There are harmful bacteria everywhere – even on our own skin we have harmful bacteria. Only if it ends up in the wrong place can it be pathogenic.

“When you wash by hand, a lot of the problems people have are pretty much taken away.”

Like Staphylococcus, many germs found on everyday objects are harmless in most cases, but Amani hopes to promote hand washing and general cleanliness as a way to avoid the more dangerous pathogens.

She continued, “We all know there are bacteria on money, but I felt like people wanted to see what it looks like. They are normal things – nothing alarming.

“The toilet seat had E.Coli, but nothing to be afraid of. E.Coli is pretty much everywhere, so you should wash your hands. I can’t stress that enough because if you accidentally inject that, it can make you sick.

“The water fountain wasn’t really bad — it was normal skin bacteria. It wouldn’t be harmful. But I’ve heard from people that mold has grown on the fountains in places where they’ve worked, which can be bad.

“That’s why I want to put these videos there. So that people can be aware that if they see something dirty they will think “maybe I should notify someone so they can clean it up”. Or don’t drink from it.’

Detecting types of bacteria can sometimes be related to their smell, says Amani, with some smelling like popcorn and others smelling like feces.

She said, “Some microbiology plates smell nice, others stink. There’s one called Pseudomonas aeruginosa that smells like grapes. Proteus mirabilis smells like chocolate pudding.

Streptococcus viridans smells like buttered popcorn. But some smell awful, like E.Coli smells like poop! There are odors for different organisms and that helps to identify them.’

P. aeruginosa is a pathogen that is sometimes associated with contaminated water and can cause pneumonia, cough and a number of other symptoms in people with weakened immune systems.

Taking your phone to the toilet was blamed for some of the germs found on screens

Catching chocolate-smelling Proteus mirabilis can cause vomiting and painful urination, while popcorn-smelling Streptococcus viridans can cause heart problems.

She added, “It’s interesting to people because a lot of people don’t know what it actually looks like. This is just showing people what it looks like on a plate when it’s grown – different types of bacteria.’

Amani’s tests follow a recent study that found bacteria from both human and cockroach feces on the screens of numerous smartphones.

E.Coli and pneumonia-causing S. aureus found on 100 percent of smartphone screens in the study from 10 phones.

SellCell COO Sarah McConomy, who led the study, previously said: “We were interested in finding out how often harmful bacteria are on our cell phone screens and which types of bacteria are most prevalent.

“The results were really shocking, with many forms of bacteria coming from human feces really showing that people need to deep clean and sanitize their cell phones more often.

“Perhaps the most disturbing thing to see was the presence of P. aeruginosa, a bacteria that comes directly from cockroaches and their poop.

“It’s really disturbing to think of cockroaches crawling all over our phones and even using them as a bathroom when we’re not looking!”

Medical laboratory scientist Amani Abdlrasul (pictured) tests 700 plates for bacteria every day

Give your PHONE a spring cleaning with seven essential maintenance steps, expert reveals

While over 93% of UK households do a spring cleaning every year, our smartphones are often neglected due care.

To ensure your electronics stay clean and in the best condition, Amrit Chatha, mobile expert at Mobiles.co.uk, has laid out the basics to ensure you can perform a thorough spring cleaning of your mobile device.

1. Make the screen shine: Amrit explained, “Alcohol wipes are the safest option for cleaning the outside of your phone. Mild soap can also be used with a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching the screen, but be sure to dip the cloth into the product rather than spraying a cleaning solution directly onto the screen.

“When cleaning your screen with any product, avoid openings such as the charging port as they can be damaged by liquid. Once it’s wiped clean, let it air dry.”

2. Dive into the Charging Ports: “Charging ports often collect dust and dirt which can lead to problems charging your phone. It is important not to use any liquids, metal or sharp objects when cleaning the charging port as this may damage the internal hardware.

“Instead, use a soft, dry object, such as a cotton swab, paper towel, or toothpick, to remove built-up dirt with gentle sweeping motions.”

3. Clean up the camera: The camera is a delicate part of the phone and therefore requires special care, but like the rest of the phone it can get dirty and affect the image quality. To do this, you can use a soft camera brush to wipe dust off the lens and prevent scratches.

“If your camera is particularly dirty, it’s safe to use a lens cloth followed by a microfiber cloth to remove any remaining smudges.”

4. Don’t Go Over the Protective Cover: “Phone cases are the easiest step in the cleaning process because you don’t have to worry about any electronic damage. Most phone cases can be cleaned with a cloth or soapy water and allowed to air dry. Use a small brush such as a toothbrush to get into the corners and remove any accumulated dirt.

“Make sure you don’t put the phone case back on the phone until it’s bone dry so water can’t seep into the handset openings.”

Source: Mobiles.co.uk.