title: Inactivation of pathogenic dermatophytes by ultraviolet irradiation in swimming pool thermal water.
abstract: The effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from low-pressure mercury lamp against some pathogenic dermatophytes species such as Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton violaceum suspended in thermal water was evaluated in laboratory-scale condition at various times. The main results showed that within 120 s of exposure, all species of dermatophytes are completely inactivated, which was evidenced by the absence of fungal regrowth, while after 60 s only T. tonsurans was recovered, with a reduction of 3.28 log. Shorter exposure times were not enough to completely inactivate all dermatophytes species. The samples treated with UV radiation for 120 s did not give evidence of fungal regrowth indicating that this disinfectant action is persistent over time. In conclusion, UV radiation can be proposed to reduce the risk of infection by dermatophytes eventually present in swimming pools that use thermal water.
authors.affiliation: a Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari - Sezione di Igiene , Università di Urbino "Carlo Bo" , Urbino , Italy.
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sisti
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pieretti
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Santi
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brandi
mesh_terms: D003883:Arthrodermataceae / Q000528:radiation effects*; D001452:Balneology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004821:Epidermophyton / Q000528:radiation effects; D045482:Hot Springs / Q000382:microbiology*; D008900:Mineral Waters / Q000382:microbiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013551:Swimming Pools; D014005:Tinea / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D008900:Mineral Waters
keywords: biological risk; dermatophytes; swimming pool; thermal water; ultraviolet disinfection