‘Handbags can harbour unsafe levels of bacteria’

WOMEN’S handbags and make-up bags as little as six months old have been found to contain unsafe levels of potentially lethal bacteria in new laboratory tests.

A range of make-up bags and handbags from four British beauty bloggers were subjected to stringent scientific analysis at the microbiology department of London Metro- politan University.

All of them tested positive for harmful strains of bacteria including salmonella, which causes chronic food poisoning, and cronobacter, a deadly strain of bacteria which causes neonatal meningitis .

It has led to microbiologists calling for a ban on such bags to be taken onto hospital wards by visitors.

Microbiologist Paul Matewele, from the London Metropolitan University, said: “I was really surprised at the high level of bacteria found on the bags and that some of them are extremely virulent pathogens. All of the bags tested positive for a large number of bacteria under strict laboratory tests.

“We swabbed the interior and exterior the bags and it was clear early on that several types of bacteria were present.”

He said two main issues had arisen out of the research. “Firstly healthy adult women are leaving themselves at risk of getting food poisoning and secondly there is a threat to young babies, the elderly, and immune-compromised hospital patients from these bags.

“It is certainly worth hospitals considering not allowing bags to be taken onto wards by visitors.

“There is little point making visitors use antibacterial hand washes when then come onto the ward if they are allowed to carry in a bag infested with bacteria.”

A survey of female beauty consumers was also carried out in parallel with the study which showed that more than a third of women (36%) never cleaned their bag and more than half (57%) kept their bags for a year or more.

Experts have urged women to clean their bags thoroughly with anti-bacterial wipes at least once a month. They said furry bags in particular are “a breeding ground” for germs.