# Swimming Pool Bacteria
## Swimming Pool Bacteria
### Types of Bacteria

There are various types of bacteria that can be found in swimming pools and other types of recreational waters. The most prevalent of them has been proven to be Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). This bacterium is one of the leading causes of skin infections in the US. Such infections could appear as painful boils, rashes, a fever, etc. It is naturally present in humans on skin, in nasal mucous, and inside the intestinal tract. S. aureus has a strong resistance to chlorine as well, which is one of the methods by which pools are often cleaned.
Another type of bacteria often often in recreational waters are Enterococci. Enterococci are a family of bacteria often found in fecal matter. Fecal contamination is one of the primary public health concerns in swimming pools. Fecal contamination usually occurs through excretion from bathers, other organisms, or contaminated water sources.

### Concentration of Bacteria Found in Recreational Waters

There has been research done to look at how much bacteria can be found in recreational waters, including a study conducted by Masoud, G., et al, studying swimming pools in Alexandria, Egypt. The team studied 10 pools, both indoor and outdoor, over the span of two months during the summer in Alexandria. The team found that bacteria seemed to be more prevalent in outdoor pools. Furthermore, they noted that the higher the pH of the pool, the more bacteria was present in the water. 20.2% of the bacteria in the pools was found to be S. aureus.
Another study, conducted by Elmir, Samir M., conducted two experiments involving a large pool and a small pool. Using 10 volunteers, the team examined how much bacteria could be found in the water shed by the bathers and how much could be found in the water after the bathers were exposed to sand. Elmir and the other researchers came to the conclusion that bathers shed both S. aureus and Enterococci into the water, with S. aureus being shed the most. Something else of note was that after each cycle, the amount of bacteria the bathers shed decreased.

### Recreational Waters Disease Prevention

There are a number of diseases caused by S. aureus and Enterococci. There are various actions taken to prevent swimmers from falling ill. The swimming facilities must ensure that their filtration system is working properly and that their staff is trained and knows the appropriate behavior and procedures of the facilities. Individual swimmers must also take preventative measures. As stated by the CDC, guests must not swim if they have diarrhea, swimmers should not swallow pool water, swimmers should cleanse themselves before entering the pool, and if the restroom is used, each guest must thoroughly clean their hands and behinds.
* ↑ "Infection caused by staphylococcus bacteria-Staph infections - Symptoms & causes". Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Masoud, Ghada; Abbass, Aleya; Abaza, Amani; Hazzah, Walaa (2016-06-17). "Bacteriological quality of some swimming pools in Alexandria with special reference to Staphylococcus aureus". Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 188 (7): 412. doi:10.1007/s10661-016-5427-8. ISSN 1573-2959.
* 1 2 3 4 5 Elmir, Samir M.; Wright, Mary E.; Abdelzaher, Amir; Solo-Gabriele, Helena M.; Fleming, Lora E.; Miller, Gary; Rybolowik, Michael; Peter Shih, Meng-Ta; Pillai, Segaran P.; Cooper, Jennifer A. (2007-01). "Quantitative evaluation of bacteria released by bathers in a marine water". Water Research. 41 (1): 3–10. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2006.10.005. ISSN 0043-1354. PMC 2633726. PMID 17113123. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
* 1 2 "Preventing Recreational Water Illnesses at Your Facility | Healthy Swimming | Healthy Water | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2024-04-27.