In the modern world, healthy habits and physical and mental fitness are more important than ever. A growing number of people participate in sports to improve their overall health. However, the conditions in which people exercise are seldom examined. It is obvious that the air in buildings, including sports facilities, can be contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms, causing infections and allergies. Our study was aimed at assessing microbial air quality inside several sports facilities (fitness room, martial arts room, swimming pool, sports hall, gym) and at a sports field. Another objective was to evaluate the antibiotic resistance of isolated Staphylococcus strains. Air samples were collected with MAS-100 sampler, using selective substrates. Antibiotic resistance of mannitol-positive staphylococci was assessed using a disk diffusion method in accordance with EUCAST recommendations. The results indicated large fluctuations in average concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria, ranging from 38 CFU m -3 (swimming pool) to 1036 CFU m -3 (sports hall). Generally, bacteria were more abundant inside the buildings, while fungi in the sports field (658 CFU m -3 on average). In all facilities, airborne fungal communities were dominated by the genus Cladosporium, followed by Penicillium, Fusarium and Acremonium. Alternaria and Aureobasidium constituted only a small percentage of isolated molds. We recorded only low concentrations of mannitol-positive staphylococci (on average ranging from 1 CFU m -3 at the swimming pool and sports field to 9 CFU m -3 in the martial arts room). Of all isolated Staphylococcus strains, 73% were resistant to benzopenicillin, while more than 90% were sensitive to gentamycin, levofloxacin and rifampicin.
The air in public facilities contains microorganisms which may cause a wide variety of clinical syndromes in humans. This is particularly important in primary healthcare units, where patients with reduced immunity and staff are directly exposed to microbial pathogens. Air samples were collected from dispensing areas (customer areas) of five pharmacies using MAS-100 air sampler. The concentration of particular groups of microorganisms was determined with the use of selective media. The taxonomic analysis of mannitol-positive bacteria was conducted using the BIOLOG Ò method, based on metabolic characteristics of analyzed strains. The isolated molds were identified based on their macroscopic and microscopic features according to available keys. The antimicrobial susceptibility of identified staphylococci was tested using the disk diffusion method in accordance with The European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing recommendations. The highest average concentrations of heterotrophic bacteria and staphylococci were recorded in two hospital pharmacies. The highest average concentrations of molds were recorded in the pharmacies located in shopping centers. Taxonomic analysis indicated that Cladosporium and Penicillium spp. predominated among the isolated molds while Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus, among mannitol-positive bacteria. Antibiograms showed that the majority of Staphylococcus strains (68.2%) were resistant to erythromycin. There was a statistically significant correlation between the concentration of investigated bacteria and the season of the year as well as the size and location of the pharmacies. The results demonstrate that there is a range of factors affecting air quality in public spaces and emphasize the fact that pharmacies can be a source of potentially pathogenic, drug-resistant bacteria.
Ecology of aquatic microorganisms depends on a number of environmental parameters. The additional influence of anthropogenic factors is connected with sanitary risk, particularly in urban areas. The study was aimed at assessing the impact of physicochemical and biological parameters on the abundance and activity of bacterioplankton under different spatio-temporal conditions in the urbanized section of the Brda River. The evaluation of sanitary pollution of water was accompanied by the assessment of antibiotic resistance of isolated faecal strains determined using the disk diffusion method. The results indicate that the location of sampling sites significantly affected by the distribution of faecal Escherichia coli and enterococci in the studied part of the river. On the other hand, there were no significant seasonal changes in respiratory activity or abundance of planktonic bacteria. In addition, the abundance of bacterioplankton was not correlated with all measured physico-chemical parameters, though it was correlated with the organic carbon oxidation rate. Depending on the sampling site, bacterial cells with damaged membranes constituted between 8% and 20% of the population. Antibiograms showed the absence of multi-drug resistant strains. Enterococci exhibited the highest resistance to imipenem (45%), while Escherichia coli, to cefoxitin (31%).
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