Racehorse, it's not bacteria, it's just skin particles. Yes, anything organic will eventually grow bacteria but both PG and VG are antimicrobial so this is not a health issue.
If you have an 'icky' issue with this stuff, that's cool (

), but it's not going to hurt you.
Ryedan, there is also bacteria.
That is precisely the reason why you shouldn't drink out of the milk bottle or orange
juice bottle directly unless you live alone.
As a matter of fact, bacteria is the reason any self respeccting bartender would never plop an olive out of the jar or even the olive holder with fingers......even clean fingers. you can test this yourself with a jar of expensive olives. They will be spoiled very quickly as soon as bacteria of any kind is introduced into the bottle/container.
Drip tips.......some spit is getting into them for sure. Also, your lips and mouth have bacteria. Combine that with lip skin cells and whatnot......ewwww. That's all I have to say.
Good hygiene is cleaning drip tip several times a day. People can justify not doing that in whatever way they want, but most people would not consider that good hygiene. Believe me, I know people put their toothbrush brush-up in cup and use it day in and day out. Ask ANY cancer patient teacher about bacteria in a ba
throom, when your immune system is somewhat depressed, you have to close the toilet before flushing, and usually flush twice. Why? Because that is how germs hang in your bathroom.
Having learned that, and not having a depressed immune system, I still have zero desire to *expose* myself to that with something I place into my mouth.
And, people's toothbrushes are exposed like that, every day. And I talk to people all the time who do not disinfect and
regularly clean their toothbrushes, and/or don't buy new ones every few months.
Sorry, but that doesn't happen at my house.

And which is why my drip tips are cleaned multiple times a day, and most of my vape gear is cleaned at night before I retire to sleep.....everyhting clean and fresh for next day.
To me drip tip is like a toothbrush, except it has WAY MORE mouth, lip and generally world exposure daily.
Not bathing for a week or 2, or not washing hair, isn't going to hurt you either......but it's just not for me.

It has nothing to do with the *ICK FACTOR*.....it has to do with having generally disciplined lifestyle + clean habits (which I interpret as a part of self respect).