EC Microbiology

Background: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identifies poor indoor air quality as one of the top five environmental health hazards affecting public health. The average person spends more than 90% of their time in enclosed environments, which is why; pollutant free air in those environments should be a priority. Exposure to indoor allergens can result in allergies, asthma, bronchial hyper-reactivity, respiratory tract inflammation, dermatitis and sinusitis.

Method: We measured environmental factors in six different points inside an athletic facility including temperature, humidity, CO, CO₂, dust characterization and airflow. We collected 98 samples in total; from which 36 were surface samples in areas were athletes are in contact with gymnastic equipment; 32 random air samples and 30 random samples for dermatophytes. We incubated all the samples and individual colonies were isolated for their identification.

Result: Results showed the presence of fungi such as Acremonium strictum, A. curvulum, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Curvularia brachyspora, C. clavata, C. senegalensis, Penicillium chrysogenum, P. citrinum, Aspergillus niger, A. clavatus. Among the most prevalent pathogenic dermatophytes were Trichophyton soudanense, T. verrucosum, and Epidermophyton floccosum. Bacteria were also accounted for; among the identified species were Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus megaterium, Serratia odorifera, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus hominis and S. saprophyticus, among others.

Conclusion: This study analyzed the microbial diversity of the site and potential health risk for users, athletes and visitors of the gymnasium. Many of the microorganisms isolated during this investigation could present a health hazard for the public in the facility specially the children that practice there. Therefore, a mitigation process was performed, minimizing the probability if infection by those using the facilities.

Keywords: Pathogenic Microorganism; Air; Surface; Gymnastic Club

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