Louisiana Via Research Day Book 2026

Community / Public Health

Community / Public Health

122 BEAUTY OR BIOHAZARD? MICROBIAL CONTAMINATION IN SHARED MAKEUP TESTERS AND PUBLIC HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

123 POST-INSERTION PAIN CONTROL AFTER INTRAUTERINE DEVICE (IUD) PLACEMENT: RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC TRENDS IN OPIOID PRESCRIBING PATTERNS

Maryam Babar, OMS-II 1 ; Aymen Arain, OMS-II 1 ; Danny Lee, MD 2 1 VCOM-Louisiana; 2 University of California San Francisco, Stanyan Hospital

Shelda St. Preux, MS; Thashanna Lyle, BS; Sydni Kynard, MS; Lin Kang, PhD; Savannah Newell, PhD VCOM-Louisiana

Background: Cosmetic testers in retail environments are widely used by consumers to sample products prior to purchase. However, these shared-use items are often exposed to repeated handling without sanitation protocols, creating potential reservoirs for microbial contamination. Despite this risk, little is known about the microbial profiles of in store testers or their implications for consumer health. Aims: This review explores microbial contamination in shared makeup testers, identifies commonly isolated organisms, examines associated clinical risks, and highlights key regulatory and research gaps. terms such as “cosmetic contamination,” “public testers,” and “pathogens in makeup.” Articles on personal-use cosmetics, salon shared products, preservative efficacy, and regulatory policies were reviewed to provide context. No formal inclusion/exclusion criteria or systematic review protocol was applied. Methods: Relevant peer-reviewed literature was identified through PubMed searches using

Results: Opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Bacillus species have been found in both personal and shared cosmetics, including unopened items. Contamination is notably higher in communal-use settings like salons. Despite this, no studies have assessed microbial loads or infection risks from public makeup testers. Vulnerable users face heightened risks of infection. Regulatory oversight remains minimal, with no mandated sanitation, expiration tracking, or microbial testing for testers. Conclusion: Public makeup testers may serve as unrecognized vectors for microbial transmission and infection. Research is needed to evaluate the safety of these products in real-world settings and to establish evidence-based hygiene protocols. Recognizing the clinical relevance of this issue is essential for guiding future policy, public health measures, and consumer education in cosmetic safety.

Context: Pain during intrauterine device (IUD) insertion can act as a barrier to its use, particularly among women of different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds. Although IUDs are among the most effective forms of contraception, pain management practices during insertion vary widely, and patient pain may be underestimated by providers performing the procedure. Historical evidence demonstrates that Black patients are often undertreated for pain due to implicit bias and structural inequities, yet little is known about whether these disparities extend to reproductive procedures. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in opioid prescribing patterns for pain management following IUD insertion. We hypothesized that Black women undergoing IUD insertion would receive fewer opioid prescriptions for pain management compared to white women, reflecting historical patterns of undertreatment. Additionally, we hypothesized that women of lower socioeconomic status (SES) would receive opioids at lower rates than women of higher SES.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the All of Us Research Program, analyzing 12,586 IUD insertion procedures across 6,259 individual patients from 2005 onward. The association between race, socioeconomic status, and receipt of an opioid prescription following IUD insertion was assessed using a binomial logistic regression model to estimate odds ratios. Multivariable adjustments were made for age, median household income, and neighborhood-level factors. Results: Over 80% of IUD insertion procedures were not associated with any prescription pain medication, while approximately 4% resulted in an opioid prescription. Opioid prescribing increased modestly over time (OR = 1.05 per year). Black patients were significantly more likely than white patients to receive an opioid prescription following IUD insertion (OR = 4.59), and this association persisted after multivariable adjustment. Median household income was also significantly associated with opioid prescribing, with both the lowest and highest income groups demonstrating higher prescription rates compared to middle-income groups, though the effect size was small.

Conclusion: Contrary to expectations based on prior literature, Black women in this cohort appeared to be more likely to receive opioid prescriptions following IUD insertion. Collectively, these findings suggest that pain management patterns in reproductive healthcare may differ from established trends observed in other clinical contexts. Possible explanations include evolving provider awareness of racial disparities, patient advocacy, or overcorrection in pain treatment practices. Further research is needed to examine clinical decision-making, patient-reported pain, and non-opioid pain management strategies to better understand equity in reproductive healthcare delivery.

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2026 Research Recognition Day