Molecular Characterization of Bacterial Species Isolated from Beauty Blenders Used by Females from Mosul City, Iraq | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 July 2026 PDF (463.71 K) | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.435263.1955 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Abeer M. Faraj* 1; Amina T. Hamid2; Amina Y. Hameed3; Mustafa H, Sami1 | ||
| 1Department of Pharmacy Technologies, Northern Technical University Medical Technical Institute, Mosul, Iraq | ||
| 2College of Medicine, Ninavah university | ||
| 3Department of Radiology Technologies, Northern Technical University Medical Technical Institute, Mosul, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Beauty blenders and other cosmetic sponges are widely used in personal and professional makeup applications. However, these tools are prone to microbial contamination due to frequent handling, inadequate cleaning. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological contamination of used cosmetic sponges from female users in Mosul City, Iraq, identify the isolated icroorganisms using phenotypic, biochemical, and molecular methods, and assess their antibiotic resistance profiles. Methodology: A total of 26 used cosmetic sponge samples were collected from volunteer participants. Microbiological analyses were conducted using culture-based techniques, VITEK-2 system identification, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed following CLSI guidelines. Additionally, behavioral data were obtained through structured questionnaires to assess hygiene practices among users. Results: Out of 26 samples, 22 (84.6%) showed positive microbial growth. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate (41.3%), followed by S. epidermidis, S. sciuri, S. xylosus, Rothia spp., and Kocuria spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed multidrug resistance in several strains, notably resistance to Oxacillin and Tetracycline among S. aureus, suggesting the presence of MRSA strains. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated close genetic relationships among Staphylococcus species, with clear divergence from Rothia and Kocuria. Several isolates were submitted to the NCBI GenBank database as novel entries. Conclusions: The high contamination rate of cosmetic sponges indicates poor hygiene practices among users, including infrequent cleaning, sharing of sponges, and storage in moist environments. Public awareness campaigns on proper cleaning and timely replacement of cosmetic applicators are recommended to reduce infection risks and promote consumer health safety. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| 16SrRNA; Public health; Beauty-blender; Bacteria | ||
|
Statistics Article View: 22 PDF Download: 6 |
||
