Isolation and Identification of Bacteria in Mosque Carpets: A Cross-Sectional Study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Alsaif, Fahad; Somily, Ali M.; Alhammad, Ghadah; Almousa, Abdullah; Albasseet, Abdulrahman; Almutawa, Afnan; Albatili, Amjad; Albatly, Latifah; Alsuhaibani, Raya; Alajlan, Ziyad; Otayf, Mojahed

doi:10.15171/ijoem.2019.1569

Cited by 1 publication

(5 citation statements)

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“…In their study in Saudi Arabia, Al Saif et al found growth in 94% of the samples they took from mosque carpets. 6 In our study, growth was observed in 92% of the samples taken from mosque carpets and prayer beads. The fact that almost all of the samples showed growth shows that the common areas and objects in the mosques may contain microorganisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 46%

“…In a study, the most frequently isolated microorganisms on mosque carpets were coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Bacillus and Micrococci , respectively. 6 In our study, the microorganisms isolated in the highest number in total were MSCoNS, micrococci and diphtheroids, indicating that the contamination of mosque carpets and prayer beads are caused by skin flora.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%

“… 8 , 9 Al Saif et al isolated Gram-negative bacteria in 31.7% of carpet samples, and reported that important bacterial species such as Shigella, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Yersinia enterocolitica were present. 6 Mohamed Ali et al in Libya detected Gram-negative bacteria in around 70% of the carpet samples. 8 Rahouma et al, also in Libya, found E coli in 28% of mosque carpet samples and Salmonella spp were detected, but they did not isolate MRSA.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Mosque floors are swept regularly, but carpet washing or hygiene practices are done much less frequently. 6 – 9 In some studies, it has been reported that certain microorganisms (such as Shigella , MRSA, Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas , etc.) are isolated from mosque carpets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are very few studies on the contamination of floors in mosques, which can be risky in terms of the contamination chain. 6 – 11 In this study, we investigated microorganism diversity in rosaries and carpets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microorganism diversity and contamination risk in mosque rosaries and carpets

Özdemir,

Karat,

Savci

et al. 2024

Ann Saudi Med

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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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 46%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 48%