Recreational activities by the water are quite popular today. Swimming is one of the most popular ways of spending free time and sports activities, also swimming has few contraindications and, in general, is usually a good idea at any age. In our country we have a wide network of various water complexes from small spas, baths, swimming pools to large-scale water parks. At the same time, we can notice that visiting swimming pools, water parks, spa centers and other water complexes is associated with an increased risk of infectious and parasitic diseases, injuries, manifestations of allergic reactions in visitors, therefore, constant monitoring of the operation of such complexes is mandatory, as well as control at the design phase, because it`s easier to prevent some moments than to correct them in the future. Water treatment methods occupy an important place in the system of monitoring the parameters of the internal environment of the water complex and the quality of water in the pools, and these methods included filtration, disinfection, and water circulation conditions. The operation of the pool is inevitably associated with water pollution: it can be with pathogenic microorganisms, organic substances and the remains of cosmetics which enter the water with the swimmers. In this case, an insufficient level of culture of visitors, especially young children, who, due to their age, cannot control their physiological needs, also play a negative role. An important point is also the long-term use of water and not frequent sanitization of the pools (with a full drain of water). The unsatisfactory sanitary state of these complexes is also facilitated by the fact that the medical examination of visitors is rather formal, and in spa centers and water parks, which are most often visited by completely different people every day, they are not needed at all, as well as a certificate of good health; that’s why the implementation of sanitary and hygienic standards and modes of operation of pools and other water complexes is mandatory, in practice, unfortunately, in our country it completely depends on the awareness of business owners. However, the issue of safety while visiting such water complexes is important. The main purpose of our research was to analyze how visitors subjectively assess the safety of visiting water complexes, and to identify the main complaints that arise in those complexes where the main method of water disinfection is chlorination. Materials and methods: we did a cross-sectional survey among visitors of swimming pools and water parks during the period from August 2019 to December 2020 as well as the water samples were collected and analyzed. The practical significance of the obtained results was to identify the main trends, problems, and critical moments from the subjective point of view of the visitors and to be able to assess the importance of hygienic education while visiting water complexes. Conclusions: in general, we note the lack of knowledge and awareness of hygiene issues before and after visiting the swimming pool (water park), which should be noted by professionals responsible for the health of visitors of different water complexes.

Національний медичний університет імені О.О. Богомольця КРИПТОСПОРИДІЇ -НЕБЕЗПЕЧНІ ПАРАЗИТИ У ВОДІ БАСЕЙНІВ ТА АКВАПАРКІВАнотація. Останнім часом спостерігається підвищений інтерес у науковців різних країн до проблеми криптоспоридіозу. Криптоспоридії є мікроскопічними найпростішими, що здатні викликати діарею, частіше у імунокомпроментованих осіб, дітей та людей похилого віку. ВООЗ відносить ці мікроорганізми до одних з найнебезпечніших паразитів. Увагу до себе криптоспоридії привертають ще й тим, що їх ооцисти є резистентними до більшості дезінфектантів, що використовуються у водопідготовці, в тому числі й до хлорування, а їх мікроскопічний розмір веде до того, що вони легко проходять через сучасні водоочисні фільтри. Крім того, криптоспоридіоз широко розповсюджений серед тварин і має низьку інфікуючу дозу. В останні роки спостерігається збільшення кількості спалахів цього захворювання, особливо пов'язаного з водним шляхом поширення. Експерти з Центру по контролю захворюваності США (CDC, USA) наголошують на зростанні кількості випадків інфікування крипто-споридіями в басейнах та аквапарках. Збільшення ризику спалахів захворюваності через наявний водний механізм передачі криптоспоридій, змушують більшість країн світу інтенсифікувати дослідження за проблемою діагностики та ідентифікації збудника, а також методів його ерадикації з води, що використовується людиною в якості питної та в господарсько-побутових потребах. Ключові слова: криптоспоридії, СНІД-індикаторна інфекція, аквапарк, басейн, санітарно-епідеміологічний контроль.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the usual way of life of almost every one of us, all areas have shifted to work with limited functioning and activities in quarantine. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is mostly transmitted from person to person by close contact through small droplets (released during coughing, sneezing and talking) contaminated with the virus, or virus particles that linger in the air for several minutes to several hours, less often infection occurs through contaminated surfaces and objects. The objective was to analyze the possibility of safe operation of water complexes (water parks, swimming pools, etc.) during a pandemic COVID-19 in our country. Materials and methods. Since November 2019 and so far, we have been taking water samples from one private pool and from the pool of a sports complex in one University in Kyiv, in addition, because of cooperation with the Brovary Regional Department of Laboratory Research of the State Institution «Kyiv Regional Laboratory Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine» we have known the results of water control in one under roof water park in Brovary, which is located in Kyiv region. We explored the quality of water by sanitary chemical indices (odor, color, turbidity, pH, water hardness, concentration of ammonia and ammonium ions, chlorides, sulfates, free chlorine, etc.) and microbiological indicators (total microbial count (TMC) and coli bacterial index (index of bacteria of the group of E. coli (CBI)). Results of the research. In our research, we analyzed the guidelines on the possibility and conditions of the functioning of water complexes during quarantine restrictions of various countries. We found that the free chlorine level in water samples complies to those recommendation, which WHO is provided in the context of the coronavirus pandemic in private and public water complexes. Currently, there are no studies that suggest the possibility of survival of SARS-CoV-2 virus in swimming pool water or other water entertainment complexes, although experimental data obtained previously with coronaviruses (on cell cultures) other than SARS CoV-2, indicate that they are usually sensitive to strong oxidants, such as chlorine. Therefore, today, we can assume that purified water in swimming pools and other water complexes is not an environment where the SARS-CoV-2 virus can survive. The WHO states that a residual free chlorine concentration ≥ 0.5 mg / L in pool water at pH < 8,0 is sufficient to kill coronaviruses. The virus that causes COVID-19 has been found in the fecal matter of infected people, not just those with symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders. It's generally believed that the excretion of the virus may persist for several days. However, it should be noted that there are no cases of fecal-oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 now. Therefore, to date, the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by fecal-oral route is assessed as low. Conclusions. According to the data from lead countries regarding recommendations for visiting water complexes during the COVID-19 pandemic and because of the lack of our own research in our country, we can talk about the possibility of their implementation in Ukraine. We believe that the constant closure of swimming pools and water complexes, and, consequently, constant breaks in the training of not only professional athletes, but also amateurs, run counter to the recommendations regarding the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. It`s worth to remember that prevention is always better than treatment, and training sports is one of the key points in ensuring the effective work of the body and the immune system in particular, which is especially important during a pandemic.