A narrative review of infections associated with personal service establishments Part I: Aesthetics
Personal service establishments (PSEs) offer a range of services to their clientele, including manicures, pedicures, facials, waxing, and hairstyling and (or) barbering services. Several key gaps exist with respect to regulations, guidelines, and best practices for PSEs. One major gap is the lack of information on infection risks associated with PSEs. To address this, we conducted a review of the scientific literature to investigate the relationship between bacterial, viral, and fungal infections and specific PSE services. Using the Ebsco database, we identified case-control studies, cross-sectional surveys, case reports, and review studies investigating this relationship. Bacterial infections, particularly, mycobacterium infections are commonly reported, while viral risks are less well characterized. No information was found on fungal infection risks. Very limited evidence is available for some services, including manicures, hair styling, and barbering. Studies related to pedicures, although few, do establish a clear link between mycobacterium infections of the lower legs and the use of re-circulating footbaths. Waxing has been implicated in bacterial infection outbreaks due to poor infection control practices. The majority of studies identified are case reports, which provide limited information on the specifics of the services, and do not allow for an assessment of the PSE-related burden of illness. Some studies, however, do point to specific risk factors, routes of transmission, and research needs that can help to better inform PSE-related policy and practice.