Fungal screening of women shoulder handbags with special reference to get rid of Aspergillus niger via essential oil vapours.

Because of the continuous use of women's shoulder handbags (WSH), they are contaminated with microorganisms. Keeping many different personal requirements, such as tissues, sandwiches, keys, and banknotes raises the contamination rate. The WSH is a probable mode of the transition of several bacteria and fungi. Identification of fungi associated with inner and outer bag faces and examining the antifungal activity of oil vapour to eliminate fungal growth. A cross-sectional analysis was followed. 72 swab samples were collected randomly from WSH. They include inside and outside the textile and leather of the handbags. Half of the swabs were cultured without vaporization, and the second half was cultured with oil vapour treatment. Typha pollens agar (TPA) medium was used, and the plates were incubated at 25oC. Oils of lavender Lavendula angustifolia, myrtle Myrtus communis, and nutgrass Cyperus rotundus were prepared from local plant materials. Filter paper evaporation method (inverted Petri dish method) was followed to exam the efficacy of the vapour in vitro. The total colony counted (TCC) were 84, Aspergillus niger, Asp.fumigatus, Penicillium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer , and Candida albicans was isolated by the inside and outside swabs, while Cladosporim cladosporoides represented by the outside surface swabs only. The number of isolates is higher in textile handbags, and the vapour of myrtle oil showed the highest reduction of TCC followed by nutgrass and lavender. The common airborne fungi were predominant in tested samples. They were higher inside (WSHs), thus may increase the potential health risks. The type of handbag materials affects the total colonies count (TCC), and using vapour oil of myrtle showed a significant reduction of TCC. It is a future choice as an effective, safe, and eco-friendly alternative agent to get rid of fungal contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]