Survey of micro-organisms associated with spoilage of cosmetic creams manufactured in South Africa

Fabrication, organoleptic evaluation and in vitro characterization of cream loaded with Carica papaya seed extract

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to provide preliminary insights into potential biopharmaceutical applications of Carica papaya seed extract by evaluating its phytochemical and biological profiles. Furthermore, the study aimed to develop a stable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion for the effective delivery of antioxidant-rich biologicals for cosmetic purposes.

METHODS

The hydroethanolic (ethanol 80%: 20% water) extract of C. papaya seeds was prepared via maceration technique. The chemical composition was carried out through preliminary phytochemical screening and estimation of total phenolic contents (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC). The biological profile of the extract was explored using various in-vitro antioxidant methods. The homogenization procedure was used to create a cream of O/W and various tests were applied to assess the stability of the emulsion. By keeping the emulsion at different storage conditions (8 ± 0.5°C, 25 ± 0.5°C, 40 ± 0.5°C, and 40 ± 0.5°C ± 75% relative humidity [RH]) for a period of 28 days), the physical stability parameters of the emulsion, including pH, viscosity, centrifugation, phase separation, and conductivity, as well as rheological parameters and organoleptic parameters (odor, color, liquefaction, and creaming), were assessed.

RESULTS

The preliminary phytochemical screening assay revealed the presence of various plant secondary metabolites including alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, and quinones. The extract was found to be rich in TPC and TFC. The in vitro antioxidant study gave maximum activity in the DPPH method. The plant extract containing cosmetic cream exhibited remarkable stability during the entire research. Data gathered indicated that no phase separation or liquefaction was seen after the experimental period. Throughout the experimental period, a small variation in the pH and conductivity values of the base and formulation was seen.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the seed extract of C. papaya is a rich source of polyphenols with antioxidant potential and can be a promising alternative for the treatment of various ailments. The stability of emulsion paves the way for its utilization as a carrier for the delivery of 3% C. papaya seed extract and applications in cosmetics products.

Survey on microbial contamination of opened skin care products used for tattooing

AIMS

Inadequate hygiene measures as well as the use of contaminated inks or non-sterile needles are considered as important infection sources in the process of tattooing. In tattoo parlors and at conventions, it is common practice to apply cosmetic products from bulk packs as lubricants during tattooing and as ointments for tattoo aftercare. The objective of our study was to assess the microbial load of opened skin care products used during tattooing or for tattoo aftercare.

METHODS AND RESULTS

First, we established a homogenization method suitable for the microbiological examination of water-immiscible products. To this end, we compared the efficiency of FastPrepTM and Stomacher® homogenizers on artificially contaminated petroleum jelly. FastPrep homogenates revealed significantly higher detection rates (≥97%) compared to Stomacher ones (31%-64%). Second, we investigated 106 cosmetic bulk pack products collected from tattoo artists. After FastPrep homogenization for 30 seconds, total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans were determined through culture. We also tested for Mycobacteria spp. by qPCR. In total, 4.7% of the cosmetic products under study turned out to be contaminated.

CONCLUSION

The observed microbial contamination of opened skin care bulk packs can hold a risk to introduce bacteria into the fresh skin wound resulting from tattooing and may be a risk factor for post-tattoo infections.

Quality and safety investigation of commonly used topical cosmetic preparations

Cosmetic and personal care products are considered an essential part of our daily care routine; hence, these products must be stable and safe for human use. This study aimed to assess the quality and safety of the most common cosmetic preparations. To select the products to be tested, a cross-sectional survey was distributed featuring the most used types and brands of products. Based on 447 responses from both males and females with different ages and education levels, 21 products from different brands were selected and tested in terms of microbial load, heavy metal content, and organoleptic properties. Microbial contamination was investigated using the aerobic plate count method. Lead (Pb), aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and arsenic (As) impurities were analyzed using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. The products included sunblock, lip balm, hand cream, hair cream, shampoo, cleanser, baby oil, baby powder, bar soap, hair dye, makeup, deodorant, hair serum, shaving gel, and toothpaste. Microbial contamination was found in 14 of the products, ranging between 1467.5 and 299.5 cfu/ml. The most commonly isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus species. Most of the tested products showed metal impurities, with toothpaste having the highest concentrations of Pb, Cr, As, Cu and Ni. The samples did not show lumps or discoloration, did not have characteristic odors, and had pH values ranging from 6.90 to 8.10. The continuous usage of such products could lead to serious negative consequences. As a result, ensuring the quality of cosmetic products is critical. Regulatory authorities are required to enforce strict legislation on cosmetic manufacturing to assess and ensure the quality and safety of the products before they reach consumers.

Beauty Salons are Key Potential Sources of Disease Spread

Beauty salons can do marvel prettiness for their customers; however, they are also considered as major health concern. They are a reason for the spread of viral, fungal and bacterial diseases. Many research isolated pathogenic bacteria and fungi from beauty salons products and tools. In this review we aim to increase the public's awareness of the potential for disease transmission through the common tools and products used in beauty salons. Furthermore, heighten salons' standards of care in sterilizing beauty tools and products and storing them properly.

An Investigation into Incidences of Microbial Contamination in Cosmeceuticals in the UAE: Imbalances between Preservation and Microbial Contamination

In recent years, concern about certain personal care products and cosmetics suffering from microbial contamination has increased. In this research, we aimed to determine the types and incidence of the most common microorganisms found in unopened/unused personal care and cosmetic products in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) market. This research involved an analysis of 100 personal care products and cosmetics. For every product, microbial (Candida albicans, Staphylococcusaureus, aerobic mesophilic bacteria, Escherichia coli, yeast and mold, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) contamination was assessed, and levels were compared with the guidelines used in Europe. Of the total samples, 15% (95% CI: 0.79–22.1) were contaminated by aerobic mesophilic bacteria compared to the maximum microbial limit of 1000 CFU/g. In addition, 13% (95% CI: 0.63–19.7) of the samples were contaminated with yeast and mold compared to the maximum microbial limit of 1000 CFU/g. Of all samples, nine (9%) were contaminated with both aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast and mold. However, none of the tested samples were contaminated with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Manufacturers of cosmetics and personal care products should be developing and implementing best practices regarding quality control/quality assurance in partnership with government regulators. Additionally, there should be greater control of the quality and safety of this type of product regarding good manufacturing practice (GMP), regulation, research, education, and the reporting of adverse events.

Risk factors influencing contamination of customized cosmetics made on-the-spot: Evidence from the national pilot project for public health

Customized cosmetics made by consumers or sellers on-the-spot have several safety issues, and therefore require a preventative approach to their safety management. The present study aimed to identify potential factors affecting the safety of customized cosmetics made on-the-spot. Heavy metals and microbial contaminants in customized cosmetics were analyzed in 120 samples. It was revealed that the transfer of cosmetics to new containers during the production process is a significant risk factor for cross-contamination and that heat treatment is crucial for reducing the number of microorganisms in the products. For instance, cosmetics made with heat and with no transfer showed relatively low microbial counts ranging from not detected to 440 CFU/ml. The high pH (>pH 10) of samples did not guarantee the microbial safety of the freshly made cosmetics (with a rinse-off product having 2,830 CFU/ml and a pH of 11.2). There was no significant difference in microbial counts among cosmetic types (P > 0.05); however, semisolid types, especially creams and rinse-off products, were susceptible to contamination (maximum 2,710 and 2,830 CFU/ml, respectively). Most microorganisms in the customized cosmetics (40.8%) decreased to non-detectable levels during 60 days of storage. None of the samples harbored heavy metals. Sequencing analysis of isolates revealed some bacteria and mold that could cause human infections. The results of this study suggest that the regulation of customized cosmetics should consider the risk factors revealed in this study, as the products made on-the-spot are also final products sent directly to consumers.

Microbiological contamination of cosmetic products - observations from Europe, 2005-2018

BACKGROUND

Although cosmetic products are not expected to be fully aseptic, their potential microbiological contamination might be dangerous, especially for immunocompromised patients. The extent of such contamination of cosmetics in Europe is poorly studied.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to explore whether microbiologically contaminated cosmetic products are available for sale in Europe and what type of contamination was reported.

METHODS

We searched the European Union Rapid Information System for dangerous non-food products (Rapex), a database of non-compliant products among 31 European countries, to identify microbiologically contaminated cosmetics reported between 2005 and 2018, and present a detailed summary of these notifications.

RESULTS

In the years 2005-2018, 104 reports on microbiologically contaminated cosmetics were identified. Twenty of them were products for children. The majority of the products (65.38%) were produced in Rapex member states. In most cases, contamination was caused by Gram-negative bacteria (59.62%), mostly Pseudomonas spp. (35.58%) and Enterobacter spp. (11.54%).

CONCLUSIONS

Gram-negative rod-shaped bacteria are the most common microbiota contaminating cosmetic products in Europe. Most of the reported microbiologically contaminated cosmetics originated from European countries.

Microbiological Safety of Non-Food Products: What Can We Learn from the RAPEX Database?

For consumer protection across borders, the European Union has established the rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products (RAPEX), with the overarching goal of preventing or limiting the sale and use of non-food products that present a serious risk for the health and safety of consumers. In our study, we comprehensively analyzed RAPEX notifications associated with products posing a microbiological risk from 2005 through 2017. Additional information was retrieved from national laboratory reports. A total of 243 microbiologically harmful consumer products triggered notifications in 23 out of 31 participating countries. About half of the products were reported by Spain, Germany, and Italy. Notifications mainly included contaminated toys, cosmetics, and chemical products. Depending on the notifying country, measures taken to prevent the spread of dangerous products were predominantly ordered either by public authorities or economic operators. The interval between microbiological diagnosis and the date of RAPEX notifications considerably varied between RAPEX member states, ranging between a few days and 82 weeks. The nature and extent of RAPEX usage substantially differed among member states, calling for harmonization and optimization. Slight modifications to RAPEX could help to systematically record microbiological hazards, which may improve the assessment of potential health risks due to contaminated non-food products.

Investigating incidence of bacterial and fungal contamination in shared cosmetic kits available in the women beauty salons

BACKGROUND

Rich texture of cosmetics can provide a suitable medium for growth of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, skin microflora of anyone is unique which might be harmful to another person. Skin and eye pathogenicity could be communicated by sharing cosmetics in beauty saloons. The main objective of this study was to evaluate microbial contamination of in-use skin and eye cosmetics which are available as public make-up kits for women in the beauty salons.

METHODS

Fifty-two in-use skin and eye cosmetics were included in this cross sectional study.The specimens from all the cosmetics were collected following the owner's informed consent, and then about 1 g of the cosmetics was added to nine ml of liquid Eugon LT100 broth medium,two for each product. Ten beauty salons randomly selected from different regions of Tabriz city between June and August 2016. Cosmetics were sampled and carried to the laboratory in sterile condition and then examined to determine bacterial and fungal species in the samples.

RESULTS

All of in-use cosmetic were contaminated with bacteria (95% CI = 93.1%-100.0%) and about 19.2% by fungus and yeast (95% CI = 10.8%-31.9%). Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter, Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Klebsiella,Citrobacter, Rhodotorula and Candida were dominant species which were isolated from the cosmetics. Powders with 38.5% (95% CI = 17.7%-64.5%) and eyeliners with 30.0% (95%CI = 6.7%-65.2%) were the most fungal contaminated products.

CONCLUSION

Shared cosmetics in beauty salons are almost contaminated by bacteria and fungus.Therefore, it is suggested to avoid sharing cosmetics by women and prevent use of public cosmetics in toilet saloons.

Septic shock caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Enterobacter gergoviae in a neutropenic patient with leukemia

We present the first reported infection caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Enterobacter gergoviae. The patient had leukemia and neutropenia and died of septic shock from KPC-producing E. gergoviae bacteremia. The emergence of KPCs in additional species of Enterobacteriaceae is alarming and may disproportionately affect patients with hematologic malignancies.

Survey of bacteriological contamination of cosmetic creams in Iran (2000)

The bacteriological quality of a variety of unused and used cosmetic creams was investigated. A 1-g sample from each product was aseptically placed in 9 ml of sterile Tween-peptone diluent, and 10-fold serial dilutions were prepared. The pour plate technique was used for aerobic bacterial colony counts, and microorganisms that grew in the culture were identified. The incidence of contamination by Gram-positive Bacilli, Staphylococcus aureus and non Escherichia coli Gram-negative organisms was found to be higher for used cosmetic creams (54%, 38% and 8%, respectively) than for unused creams (38%, 25% and 0%, respectively). Viable microorganisms were not recovered from 17% of the unused items whilst only 10% of the used creams did not contain viable microorganisms. The significance of the results is discussed and the importance of adopting suitable quality control guidelines is highlighted.

Efficiency of Calamintha officinalis essential oil as preservative in two topical product types

AIMS

To verify the efficiency of Calamintha officinalis essential oil as natural preservative in two current formulations.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The 1.0 and 2.0% (v/v) C. officinalis essential oil was assayed for its preservative activity in two product types (cream and shampoo). The microbial challenge test was performed following the standards proposed by the European Pharmacopoeia Commission (E.P.) concerning topical preparations using standard micro-organisms and in addition wild strains, either in single or mixed cultures were used. The results clearly demonstrated that the C. officinalis essential oil at 2.0% concentration reduced the microbial inoculum satisfying the criterion A of the E.P. in the cream formulation and the criterion B in the shampoo formulation. Standard and wild strains showed a behaviour similar, both in cream and in shampoo formulation, with no significant difference (gerarchic variance, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

C. officinalis essential oil confirmed its preservative properties but at higher concentration than that shown in previous studies on cetomacrogol cream.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The nature of the formulation in which an essential oil is incorporated as preservative could have considerable effect on its efficacy.