Survival of Staphylococcus aureus applied to Poa pratensis L. and synthetic turf

Abstract

AbstractMethicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates have become more prevalent among athletes. The objective of this study is to examine the survival of S. aureus on synthetic turf systems and natural turfgrass under varying environmental conditions and to evaluate the effectiveness of various control agents applied to the synthetic turf. Under non‐extreme temperature and very limited light conditions, less than 4% of the S. aureus applied survived on both synthetic and natural turfgrass for 12 d. Applied control agents reduced survival rates to less than 1% survival at 6 d for all but one treatment. When S. aureus was applied to outdoor surfaces in the presence of sunlight, the bacterial survival rate was reduced to under 1% survivability within 2 h of S. aureus application on synthetic turf and within 3 h on natural turfgrass. Exposure to UV light and higher temperature seemed to be an effective disinfectant under the conditions of this experiment. Survival rates on synthetic and natural turfgrass did not differ greatly in indoor conditions.