evaluating gym hygiene practices and microbial contamination using protein and fluorescence testing approaches

Background: this cross-sectional study aimed to assess cleaning and disinfection practices in gyms, focusing on the safety of these collective-use environments.methods: the study was conducted from october to december 2023 in two gyms-one public and one private. the study involved the inspection of high-traffic and frequently-touched exercise equipment, including bars for upper and lower limb training, extension, and flexion chairs, shoulder press machine, hack squat machine, dumbbells, leg press machine, flexor table, hammer rowing, articulated bench press, and chest fly machine. the fluorescence method, protein test, and visual inspection were used for such analyses.results: a total of 120 evaluations were performed, encompassing 48 visual inspections (40.0%), 48 protein tests (40.0%), and 24 fluorescence analyses (20.0%). among the equipment with the highest protein presence were the squat bar, 8kg dumbbell, hack squat machine, and leg press machine. positive fluorescence results were found on the leg press, 8kg dumbbell, and chest fly machine. visible dirt was present in 95.8% of the public gym environment and 33.3% (p < 0.001) of the private gym equipment.conclusion: the cleaning and disinfection practices performed in public and private gyms were inadequate and need improvement to mitigate the risks of cross-contamination among users.