Fungal Contamination of Indoor Public Swimming Pools, Ahwaz, South-west of Iran

Abstract

Background: Using public swimming pools during different seasons and poor health behavior could be responsible in transmis­sion of fungal disease through pool water and its environment. Therefore, this research was conducted to investi­gate fungal agents of indoor public swimming pools of Ahwaz, capital city of Khouzestan Province, south-west of Iran.
Methods: Ten indoor swimming pools of Ahwaz were investigated during two seasons for 6 months. Water specimens were col­lected by pump and environment samples including shower-bath area, margin of pool walls, dressing rooms, and slip­pers, by sterile carpet pieces. All specimens were cultured in SC and SCC culture media and fungal agents identification were based on macroscopic, microscopic characteristic and complement tests when it was necessary. Data analyzing was per­formed using SPSS version 13 for descriptive analyzing.
Results: A total of 593 samples were collected from different parts of pools. Interestingly in 13 samples from environ­mental places, dermatophytes were isolated as follows: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. rubrum, T. verrucosum and Epidermo­phyton floccosum 5, 4, 3 and 1 cases respectively. Ten cases of dermatophytes were isolated from floor of dressing area. Three hundred seventy two saprophytic fungi species and 32 yeasts were recovered from water and environment sur­faces samples. Aspergillus, Penicillium and Mucor were the most common isolated saprophytic fungi.
Conclusion: Existence of saprophytic fungi and yeast in pools water seems to be an indicator of their resistance to detergent agents. In addition, yeast water contamination could be from swimmers. Dermatophytes isolation from pools environment ar­eas and foot washing sink, reveals the importance of public swimming pools in disease transmission. Because dressing places are being used by all of the swimmers, take care of hygienic discipline in these places should be noted by health pol­icy markers.