Isolation and Identification of Microorganisms from Makeup Brushes in Rivers State University Nigeria and Its Environs

Components of makeups and cosmetic supply may serve as source and medium for the growth of microorganisms. A vast majority of females nowadays apply makeups in order to enhance their facial looks. Repetitive use and sharing of the makeup brushes by different customers may become a potential pathway for microbial pathogens spread. The major goal of this study was to isolate and identify microbial contaminants of makeup brushes from students within Rivers State University and its environs. And also determine the antimicrobial sensitivity of the isolated microorganisms to different antimicrobial agents. Eighty (80) samples of makeup brushes were collected from different hostels, personal houses, and beauty salons and were cultured by inoculating them into different culture media as Nutrient, Blood and Sabouraud Dextrose agar to isolate bacteria and fungi respectively. The identification of isolated bacteria was confirmed by using pure culture of the isolates, Gram stain, and biochemical tests which were catalase, coagulase, and others including germ tube tests. The sensitivity test of the isolated bacteria to different antibiotics was carried out using the Optodisc diffusion method. The microorganisms isolated and identified were Staphylococcus epidermidis (55%), Staphylococcus aureus (22.5%), and Candida albicans (22.5%). The isolated bacteria were susceptible to Ciprofloxacin, Levofloxacin and Gentamycin. The findings of this study have shown that both Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated as bacteria, while Candida albicans as fungi from makeup brushes. Staphylococcus epidermidis are considered as normal skin flora whereas, Staphylococcus aureus could be pathogenic and present as source of infecting bacteria. It could be concluded that it is possible to isolate bacteria and fungi that may be pathogenic from makeup brushes, that may act as source of infecting pathogens therefore increases the risk of infection and public health concern.