Yeasts in spa establishments

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Recreational water facilities and bathing areas can harbor microorganisms.
• Understanding yeast distribution is crucial for public health and hygiene management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the occurrence and distribution of yeasts in bathing surfaces, sauna rooms, and pool waters.
• To identify yeast strains and assess their resistance to disinfectants.
• To determine if certain yeasts can serve as indicators of environmental contamination.

Main Methods:

• Sampling of bath surfaces, sauna rooms, and swimming/therapeutic pool water.
• Isolation and identification of 172 yeast strains.
• Testing the toxic effects of disinfectants (Peracetic acid, Chloramin B) on isolated strains.
• Correlation of yeast occurrence with patient age and environmental factors (temperature, furnishings).

Main Results:

• Yeast counts decreased with patient age, with the lowest contamination found after bathing by 40-60-year-old women.
• Yeasts were absent on sauna benches above 55°C but abundant on lower benches (35-40°C) and basin surfaces (up to 10^6/100 cm²).
• Most isolated yeast strains exhibited resistance to Peracetic acid and Chloramin B.

Conclusions:

• Yeasts, particularly Cryptococcus, Candida, Rhodotorula, Torulopsis, and Metschnikowia, should not be present in bathing establishments.
• The presence of these yeasts indicates environmental contamination, including water quality issues.
• Disinfectant resistance highlights challenges in controlling microbial growth in these settings.