Fungal Contamination of Wrestling and Bodybuilding Clubs in Hamedan Province, Western Iran

Background & Aims: This study first evaluated the fungal contamination of tools and surfaces in wrestling and bodybuilding clubs in Hamedan province, western Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2018 to May 2019 focusing on nine wrestling and bodybuilding clubs in different areas of Hamedan province. The sterile carpet method (10×10) was used for sampling from mats floor and wall, bath and WC, locker room and parquet surfaces, and environmental air. Common mediums and methods in mycology were employed to culture samples and detect grown fungi. Results: The most frequently isolated fungal genera were Rhizopus (24%), Penicillium (24%), Aspergillus flavus (23%), Aspergillus niger (19%), yeast (7%), Scopulariopsis (6%) Mucor, and Ulocladium (1%). Based on the results, no dermatophyte contamination was detected in any of the samples. The most contaminated surfaces (place of sampling) were wrestling mats (95.7%). The highest and lowest prevalence rates of fungal contamination in this study were found in Razan (87.5%) and Malayer (72.7%), respectively. Conclusion: According to our results, the most contaminated surfaces belonged to wrestling mats. Thus, we would suggest that common-sense hygiene measurements should be continued, including showering after every encounter, washing practice clothes daily, and disinfecting mats daily.