Survival of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in 3 Different Swimming Pool Environments (Chlorinated,Saltwater,and Biguanide Nonchlorinated)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the viability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in 3 types of swimming pool environments. This study demonstrates that after 1 hour, all MRSA inoculants were found to be nonviable in chlorinated water, saltwater, and biguanide-treated water. This study indicates that swimming pool water that is properly maintained in both public and private swim centers is not likely to be a vehicle to spread MRSA from swimmer to swimmer.

Keywords

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus swimming pools

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Murray PR , Baron EJ , Jorgensen JH , Pfaller MA , Yolken RH , eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 8th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 2003.

Sanford MD , Widmer AF , Bale MJ , Jones RN , Wenzel RP Efficient detection and long-term persistence of the carriage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Clin Infect Dis. 1994 ;19:1123-1128.

Chambers HF The changing epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus? Emerg Infect Dis. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/ eid/vol7no2/chambers.htm. Published December 8, 2001. Accessed December 21, 2009.

Herold BC , Immergluck LC , Maranan MC , et al. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in children with no identified predisposing risk. JAMA. 1998;279:593-598.

Forbes BA , Sahm DF , Weissfeld AS Bailey & Scott’s Diagnostic Microbiology: Manual of Microbiological Culture Media. 1st ed. St Louis, MO: C V Mosby; 2002.

Tolba O. , Loughrey A. , Goldsmith CE , Millar C. , Rooney PJ , Moore JE Survival of epidemic strains of healthcare (HA-MRSA) and community-associated (CA-MRSA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in river-, sea- and swimming pool water. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2008;211:398-402.

Pond K. Water Recreation and Disease Plausibility of Associated Infection. London, UK: International Water Association; 2006.