Microbiological Safety Assessment of Reusable Sanitary Pads Manufactured in Senegal: A Public Health Concern

Abstract

Background: Reusable sanitary pads represent an affordable alternative to disposable products for addressing menstrual poverty in Senegal. However, their safety profile remains largely unexplored, particularly regarding microbiological contamination risks. Methods: We conducted microbiological analysis of 32 sanitary pads from four batches manufactured by ACDEV using standard pharmacopeial methods. Total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC) were determined, alongside specific detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. All analyses were performed in triplicate with appropriate quality controls. Results: All tested batches exhibited severe microbial contamination with TAMC values ranging from 9.8 × 106 to 1.2 × 107 CFU/mL, exceeding acceptable limits (≤100 CFU/mL) by five orders of magnitude (CV = 12.3%, 95% CI: 1.05 × 107 - 1.15 × 107). S. aureus was detected in 50% of samples (batches A and D), while other target pathogens remained undetected. Conclusions: These findings reveal critical public health risks and underscore the urgent need for regulatory framework development, quality control implementation, and Good Manufacturing Practices adoption in Senegal's menstrual hygiene product manufacturing sector.