Contaminação microbiológica em provadores de batons disponíveis aos consumidores

The microbiological contamination of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products represents a public health problem becauseit can cause infections. Before purchasing a particular cosmetic, many consumers test it on their own skin, increasingthe susceptibility to microbiological contaminations. We hypothesize that these lipstick testers available to pharmacyconsumers represent a potential source of microbiological contamination. This study analyzed the microbiologicalquality of 30 lipstick samples, randomly collected, from different manufacturers, available to the consumers for trialsin pharmacies in southern Brazil (fifteen samples were collected in Casca, five in Ciriaco and ten in Passo Fundo). Themicrobiological quality of the lipsticks was evaluated by: total count of viable bacteria and mold and yeast, and presenceof pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It was verified that amounts ranged from 1.0 x 10¹ to1.9 x 105 CFU/g of viable bacteria and from 1.0 x 10¹ to 7.3 x 10³ CFU/g of molds and yeasts on the lipsticks. 54.33%and 40% of the samples were disapproved by the total count of viable bacteria and molds and yeasts, respectively. S.aureus, Aspergillus sp. and Cladosporium sp. were also found. Although the waxy composition of the lipsticks hindersmicrobial contamination this research reveals a large number of microorganisms. Our hypothesis that the lipsticks havea high microbiological load was confirmed. Opportunistic pathogenic microorganisms can become infectious agents inpatients with compromised immune systems. The use of disposable applicators is proposed as an alternative way to avoidmicrobiological contamination of the cosmetic products.