Banana peel: a possible source of infection in the treatment of nipple fissures

• Published in: Jornal de pediatria Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 221 - 6
• Main Authors: Novak, Franz Reis, de Almeida, João Aprígio Guerra, de Souza e Silva, Rosana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01-05-2003
• Subjects: Breast Diseases - therapy; Fruit - microbiology; Humans; Musa - microbiology; Nipples - injuries; Skin Diseases, Infectious - microbiology
• DOI: 10.2223/JPED.1023
• ISSN: 0021-7557

To study the microbiology of banana peel being sold in the city of Rio de Janeiro, in an attempt to determine the possibility that the peel may represent a source of infection for women who use it to treat nipple fissures.
The following microorganisms were studied in 20 banana peel samples: mesophiles, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, lipolytic and proteolytic microorganisms, molds and yeasts, lactic bacteria, and coagulase-positive staphylococcus.
The microbiological analyses revealed the occurrence of several typical groups of microorganisms, with the following distribution of positive results being detected in banana peel samples: mesophiles, 100%; total coliforms, 20%; coagulase-positive staphylococcus, 25%; molds and yeasts, 30%; proteolytic microorganisms, 70%; lipolytic microorganisms, 30%, and lactic bacteria, 95%. Fecal coliforms and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not isolated.
The results show the presence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms in levels which could compromise the microbiological quality of the banana peel. Its use for the treatment of nipple fissures can initiate an infectious process.