A literature search was conducted of PubMed/Medline and MESH databases to support analyses and investigations of the relationship between microorganisms associated with human topical (skin) infections (including opportunistic pathogens) and cosmetics. Key terms for literature searches included
microbial genera and species of interest (bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans, parasites), opportunistic pathogens, human skin disease and infection, specific skin diseases (e.g., dermatomycoses, candidiasis, ecthyma, impetigo, etc.), surgery, infants, pregnant women, geriatric, immunocompromised, HIV and polymicrobial. The number of journal articles for defined searches was summarized and journal citations and abstracts were cataloged and incorporated into a searchable information system (MS Access). A periodic update to literature searches was completed in July 2017 and observations from the update indicate the most commonly associated bacteria with topical (skin) infections/diseases were Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp. Also, the literature searches indicate the most commonly associated fungi with topical (skin) infections/diseases were Tinea spp., Candida spp., and Aspergillus spp. A relative rank of occurrence of microorganisms associated with topical (skin) infections/disease in the literature citations was: Herpes simplex virus, Staphylococcus aureus, Tinea spp., Candida spp., Human papillomavirus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Leishmania spp., Streptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp., and Treponema pallidum. Literature searches for opportunistic microorganisms and emerging pathogens for this update identified several articles on dermatomycotic species including Candida yeasts (Candida albicans), dermatophytes (Aspergillus, and Trichophyton) and other opportunistic yeasts (Malassezia spp. and Rhodotorula spp.) associated with topical (skin) infections/diseases. A few of the opportunistic pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae more prevalent in citations were Klebsiella spp. and Enterobacter spp. Although the literature searches focused on microorganisms, key topical (skin) diseases noted in the citations were dermatomycoses, leishmaniasis, eczema, candidiasis, and impetigo.