Microbiological Quality Assessment of Some Brands of Cosmetics Powders Sold within Jos Metropolis, Plateau State

Abstract

The study was aimed at determining the microbiological quality of some brands of cosmetic powders sold within Jos metropolis. Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium tetani, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans were specifically targetted. A total of 60 samples; 20 each of three different brands of cosmetic powders were analyzed. The mean aerobic plate counts obtained were 1.6 x 104 cfu/g, 2.3 x 104 cfu/g and 4.5 x 105 cfu/g while the mean yeast and mould counts were 1.1x 104 cfu/g, 1.4 X 104 cfu/g and 2.7 X 104 cfu/g. Thirty (50 %) of the samples analyzed were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, twelve (20 %) were contaminated with Clostridium tetani and four (7 %) were contaminated with Candida albicans. Bacillus spp was also isolated from four (7 %) samples while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not isolated from any of the samples analyzed. The moulds isolated from the cosmetic powders include; Aspergillus niger, Apergillus fumigatus, Penicillium spp., Rhizopus oligosporus, Fusarium spp.