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Are mosque carpets’ reservoirs for fungi causing superficial foot mycosis? A cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract

The possibility of superficial foot mycoses to spread through contaminated mosque carpets between worshipers imposes a great health burden and is never addressed in Riyadh, SA. We aimed to assess the prevalence of fungal infections, especially human dermatophytosis acquired from mosque carpets, in five different regions of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and establish a means of contamination control. A cross-sectional study of 100 mosques in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, using a multistage random cluster sampling technique. The study included mosques that had an ablution area and regularly hosted five prayers a day. Sterile swabs were used for sampling, and the samples were transported to the laboratory for culture and analysis using a micro-scan system. A total of 199 (65%) samples contained several fungal species. Rhodotorula (74%), Cladosporium (47%), Bipolaris (46.6%), other yeasts (43.7%), Alternaria (40%), dematiaceous molds (34%), Curvularia (32.4%), and Candida (31%) were the most frequently isolated species. Species belonging to several other genera were also detected. This study revealed a relatively high prevalence of fungal organisms in mosque carpets in Riyadh, suggesting the need for implementing new strategies and laws to increase the level of hygiene awareness among worshipers and mosque caretakers to limit the spread of foot fungal infections.

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Abbreviations

MIADG:

Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance

PSO:

Proximal subungual onychomycosis

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Acknowledgments

We thank our colleague Dr. Shaik Shafi Ahamed for providing his statistical expertise in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Fahad Alsaif, Amal Balbeesi, Ghadah Alhammad & Afnan Almutawa

  2. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ali Somily

  3. Department of Dermatology, Prince Sultan Medical Military City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Lama Altawil

Authors
  1. Fahad Alsaif
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  2. Ali Somily
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  3. Amal Balbeesi
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  4. Ghadah Alhammad
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  5. Afnan Almutawa
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  6. Lama Altawil
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Correspondence to Fahad Alsaif.

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Alsaif, F., Somily, A., Balbeesi, A. et al. Are mosque carpets’ reservoirs for fungi causing superficial foot mycosis? A cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 38695–38700 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09160-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09160-x

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