John Libbey Eurotext




Face and body sponges: beauty aids or potential microbiological reservoir?
European Journal of Dermatology. Volume 13, Number 6, 571-3, November - December 2003, Clinical report
Free Article
Author(s) : Monica CORAZZA, Elide CARLA, Maria Rita ROSSI, Maria Federica PEDNA, Annarosa VIRGILI
Summary : Small natural or synthetic sponges are commonly used in daily hygiene and in removing make‐up. In our study we try to assess the role of sponges as reservoirs and vehicles in the transmission of potentially pathogenic bacterial species. We demonstrate that numerous Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacterial species are detectable in sponges after normal use by the healthy population. The most common bacteria to be found are Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli in both cellulose and nylon sponges\; this observation supports the idea that the environmental factors (humidity, temperature) favour bacterial growth more than the different materials the sponges are made of. Sponges should be restricted to personal use, regularly washed, completely dried and kept in a dry place.
Keywords : cellulose and nylon sponges, Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacterial species, microbiological investigation

Face and body sponges: beauty aids or potential microbiological reservoir?