Antibiogram of bacteria and fungi isolated from makeup kits in Port Harcourt metropolis

Abstract

Makeup kits are materials put together to enhance a person’s appearance. Sharing of makeup kits is mostly found amongst women owing to getting their makeup done by professionals in beauty salons. Patrons of beauty salons share makeup items like mascara, eyeliners, lipsticks, lip glosses, and brushes. This study assesses the presence of microorganisms on some makeup kits; brushes, mascara and razor blades used in Port Harcourt metropolis. Swab samples were aseptically collected from the surfaces of makeup kits at three different locations: Iwofe, Saint John and Mile 3. Organisms were enumerated and identified using standard microbiological techniques. Kirby Bauer disc method was used for antibiotic sensitivity. Total Heterotrophic bacterial mean counts ranged from 1.5±0.7 to 4.0±1.41 CFU/ml while the total heterotrophic fungi mean counts ranged from 1.3±0.28 to 8.0±1.41 SFU/ml. Identified bacteria isolates belonging to the five genera and their percentage occurrence were; Streptococcus sp. 1(16.6%), Staphylococcus sp. 2(33.3%), Micrococcus sp. 1(16.6%), Bacillus sp. 1(16.6%), Escherichia coli 1(16.6%) and identified fungal isolates belonging to four genera were: Candida sp.(20%), Mucor sp.(20%), Aspergillus spp.(40%), and Penicillium sp.(20%). Sensitivity results showed that Staphylococcus sp. was resistant to reflacine, amplicox, zinnacef, and ciprofloxacin and was susceptible to septrin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and streptomycin. Micrococcus sp. was susceptible to erythromycin, gentamicin septrin, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin and was resistant to reflacin, zinnacef, rocephin and amplicox. Streptococcus sp was resistant to erythromycin and streptomycin and was susceptible to septrin, gentamicin and zinnacef. Bacillus sp was resistant to septrin, gentamycin, amplicox, rocephin, and ciprofloxacin and was susceptible to reflacine and erythromycin. Escherichia coli was resistant to nalidixic acid, gentamicin, augumentin, and ceporex, and was susceptible to reflacine. The mere presence of antibiotic-resistant organisms on the surfaces of makeup kits calls for public health concern. Sharing of makeup kits has been reported to harbor potentially pathogenic microorganisms. It is therefore recommended that makeup kits should not be shared and must be cleaned before and after use to forestall any public health crisis.

Keywords: Makeup kits, microorganisms, antibiotic resistance.