Swimming pools and fungi: An epidemiology survey in Polish indoor swimming facilities

Abstract

Environmental conditions for swimming facilities may support fungal growth and also may represent a biological risk for users. However, since previously published studies both cleaning procedures and sanitary regulations are likely to have been improved. The aim of the study was to examine whether attendance to public swimming pools was still a risk factor for fungal infection of the skin in Poland. We investigated the occurrence of mycotic species, in a sample from Polish swimming pools. Detection and identification of isolated species were achieved by cultural and morphological methods. Study revealed high incidence of yeast and yeast-like fungi. Candida spp. and Rhodotorula rubra were commonly detected, followed by Aspergillus spp. and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Surprisingly, the prevalence of clinically important species isolated from swimming pool environments did not reflect prevalence of those species in Polish population. The present results are in agreement with previous research and support that swimming pools remain an important reservoir of clinically important fungi, yet the exposure associated with swimming pools may not be a major source of dermatophytic infection in Poland.