Wrestling mats: are they a source of ringworm infections?

Objective: To determine if the fungal molds (dermatophytes) responsible for causing ringworm could be isolated from a section of wrestling mat during the 1998-1999 season.Design and Setting: A 2-part study was conducted. The first phase involved a culture evaluation of material taken from wrestling mats at 8 local high schools. The second phase was a bench laboratory study to determine if the fungus and molds could be grown from a wrestling mat in an optimal setting.Subjects: We obtained material from areas of the practice mats of 8 high school wrestling teams at monthly intervals during the wrestling season. A 0.61-m (2-ft) x 0.31-m (1-ft) area of mat from 1 of the schools was used for the laboratory phase of the study.Measurements: We cultured samples taken from each school's wrestling mats for growth of dermatophytes and used a questionnaire to determine the mat-washing habits and policies of each school. Also, wrestlers from the 8 schools were screened weekly by the designated team physician and certified athletic trainer. Any suspicious lesions were cultured for fungi.Results: No dermatophytes were grown from the swab specimens taken at the 8 schools, and no dermatophytes were isolated from a section of mat evaluated in optimal laboratory conditions.Conclusions: It is unlikely that wrestling mats are a source of ringworm infections in wrestlers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]