Examination of Microbial Flora Present in Gel Based Cosmetic Creams

Abstract

This work was aimed to determine the microbial quality of gel based cosmetic creams. Samples were collected from the local market of Gwalior. Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium tetani and Candida albicans were specifically targeted. A total of 60 samples; 20 each of three different brands was examined. 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 sp. was also isolated from four (7 %) samples while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not isolated from any of the samples analyzed. Aspergillus niger, Apergillus fumigatus, moulds were isolated from the creams.