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. 2000 Oct-Dec;35(4):427–430.

Wrestling Mats: Are They a Source of Ringworm Infections?

Thomas D Kohl, David C Martin, Richard Nemeth, Deborah L Evans; Berks County Scholastic Athletic Trainers' Association*
PMCID: PMC1323369  PMID: 16558657

Abstract

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)× 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.

Keywords: tinea gladiatorum, wrestling, tinea corporis, infection control

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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