Occupational Exposure To Fungi In GymnasiumsWith Swimming Pools

Abstract

Fungal contamination of the floor in 10 gyms with swimming pools was monitored. One hundred and twenty swab samples were collected: 60 before and 60 after cleaning operations. The samples were taken near the pool and jacuzzi, in surrounding the pool access stairs, in training studios and in male and female showers and changing rooms. Simultaneously, environmental parameters temperature and relative humidity were also monitored. Thirty-seven different species of fungi were identified. Among those species, Fusarium sp. was the most frequent species isolated before (19,1%) and after (17,2 %) the cleaning operations. Twelve different species of yeasts were identified. The most identified genera before cleaning was Cryptococcus (40,6%), and after cleaning was Candida (49,3%). The difference between before and after cleaning operations was statistically significant (p 0,05) with temperature and relative humidity.