Author(s)

C. Viegas, C. Pinheiro, E. Carolino, L. Rosado & C. Silva Santos

Abstract

A descriptive study was developed to create and implement a risk assessment methodology for fungal infection in gymnasium workers. The infection was considered to occur through skin-surface contact. A pool of 10 gyms with swimming pools (the busiest of the 30 existing in Lisbon) was assessed for surface fungal contamination. Surface sampling was done before and after cleaning and disinfection procedures in 60 locations, which accounted for a total of 120 samples (6 from each of 10 gymnasiums at the following sites: floor surrounding the swimming pool; floor surrounding the Jacuzzi; stairs accessing the swimming pool area; floor of the training studios where most of the bare foot activities took place and changing/locker rooms for each gender. Risk assessment methodology was applied: the authors considered Severity to be dependent on the fungal species present; Probability was considered as the product between Frequency and Exposure. For each establishment, the fungal contamination mean value was calculated prior and after cleaning and disinfection in order to establish Frequency levels. Regarding Exposure, weekly hours spent in professional activity were divided into group intervals. Surprisingly, when comparing before and after cleaning and disinfection, the number of places considered to have a High Risk for fungal infection was higher in the last case. There were no training studios with High Risk of fungal

Keywords

risk assessment, fungal infection, gymnasiums, workers