Reviewing Microbial Contamination of Smokeless Tobacco Products

Background: Previous studies have shown that smokeless tobacco (SLT) products have a high microbial load and may lead to various diseases. This study reviews microbial contamination (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) of SLT products. Materials and Methods: The literature search was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases in March and April ۲۰۲۴. Search results were limited to the English language. Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts of the search results. For included studies, the data were extracted (year, country of the study, type of SLT, type of sampling, and microbial communities). Results: About ۵۰ bacterial species and ۲۰ fungal species were observed in SLT products in previous studies. Among the bacterial agents, bacillus has the highest occurrence with ۱۳ repetitions, followed by pseudomonas (۹ repetitions). Furthermore, among the fungal agents, aspergillus has been repeated in ۹ studies. Conclusion: Ensuring the processing, packaging, and storage of SLT products in hygienic conditions, as well as the implementation of strict rules to protect the health of users is strongly recommended.