Microorganism diversity and contamination risk in mosque rosaries and carpets

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Inevitably, the floors of mosques are contaminated with microorganisms, and the risk of pathogen transmission is probably high between the many visitors, but the issue has been infrequently studied. OBJECTIVES: Investigate microorganism variety and risk of contamination on commonly used carpets and rosaries (prayer beads). DESIGN: Cross-sectional SETTINGS: Mosques METHODS: This study was carried out in three different cities of Turkey in 2023, focusing on mosques located around hospitals. Forty mosques were included in the study and from each mosque 10 samples were collected from various parts of carpets and rosaries. The number of positive culture isolates were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diversity and distribution of microorganisms isolated from mosque carpets and rosaries; methicillin-resistance rates in Staphylococci. SAMPLE SIZE: 400 samples RESULTS: Growth was observed in 368 (92%) of 400 samples examined. The microorganisms isolated in the highest number were methicillin-susceptible coagulase negative Staphylococci (MSCoNS) (59.8%), Microcooccus (41%) and diphtheroids (31.3%). The rates of total growth (P=.001), including diphtheroids (P=.018), methicillin-resistant coagulase negative Staphylococci (P=.001), Bacillus spp. (P=.036) and Aspergillus spp. (P=.002) rates were significantly higher in the rosary samples than carpet samples. At mosques in Tokat, a province center, 4 samples were positive for Acinetobacter baumannii, two samples were positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one sample for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and these were isolated from rosaries. 0.3% of Staphylococcus isolates were MRSA. CONCLUSION: As there is a high risk of contamination of carpets and prayer beads on the mosque floor with human flora, the use of appropriate hygiene practices is necessary. We also found some emerging bacteria in addition to the normal human flora. LIMITATIONS: Our study was conducted in three provinces. Further studies might cover a wider geography.