<![CDATA[Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogenic bacterium that can cause serious infections in humans. One of the media for spreading this bacterium is paper money, which is often exposed to various sources of contamination, particularly in traditional markets. Factors such as traders' habits of handling money without washing their hands after touching fish are known to play a significant role in increasing bacterial contamination. This study aims to analyze the differences in the levels of S. aureus contamination on paper money returned by fish vendors at the Inpres Traditional Market in Lhokseumawe based on its denomination. This study is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional design. Data were obtained from 60 paper money samples collected from 15 fish vendors using simple random sampling techniques. The results showed that 54 paper money samples (90%) were contaminated with S. aureus, distributed as 15 bills of Rp2.000, 15 bills of Rp5.000, 13 bills of Rp10.000, and 11 bills of Rp20.000. Statistical analysis using the Chi-Square test showed a p-value < 0.05, indicating a significant difference in S. aureus contamination levels based on the denominations of paper money. The study concluded that smaller denominations of paper money are more prone to contamination. Therefore, education for traders and the public regarding the importance of hygiene in handling paper money is necessary to reduce the risk of bacterial transmission through paper money.]]>
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