The objective of the present study was to identify the microbiota present in the hands of academics and teachers of a Higher Education Institution in the municipality of Primavera do Leste - MT. Samples were collected from 24 volunteers using a swab. Of the samples collected, 19 (79.1%) showed bacterial growth in a nutrient culture medium, being isolated from this: Staphylococcus aureus (31.6%), S. lugdunensis (31.6%), S. epidermidis (15.8%), S. spp. (5.8%) and Escherichia coli (5.2%). The occurrence of bacteria found in the hands of the volunteers makes it possible to infer that the hands can act as a means of transmission and microbiological multiplication. To avoid this transmission, hygiene and antisepsis measures should be adopted regularly.