Microbial Diversity and Abundance in Fitness Centers of Rural Guyana

Abstract

Fitness centers facilitate frequent skin-to-surface contact, creating environments favorable for microbial proliferation and transmission. Despite these risks, microbial contamination remains largely unexplored in the Caribbean, particularly in rural regions. The objective of this study was to assess microbial diversity and abundance present on frequently used fitness equipment in rural Guyana. Surface swab samples (n = 180) were collected in triplicate from frequently contacted equipment across two fitness centers over a two week period. Samples were investigated using culture-based methods followed by morphological and biochemical identification. Differences in microbial abundance were analyzed using preliminary statistical analyses, including one-way ANOVA and Welch’s t-test. All sampled surfaces revealed 100% microbial contamination, with 13 bacterial genera and 3 fungal genera identified overall. Among the bacterial genera, Staphylococcus spp. was predominant across both fitness centers, consistent with its association with human flora and environmental persistence. Bacterial abundance was significantly higher in Fitness center 2 than in Fitness center 1, whereas Fitness center 1 showed greater microbial diversity. These findings indicate that fitness equipment serves as reservoirs for opportunistic pathogens, posing potential health risks to users, thereby highlighting the need for public health interventions in fitness facilities within low-resource settings.