Folliculitis in spa pools

What is folliculitis in spa pools?

Spa pool folliculitis is also known as hot tub or hot tub folliculitis, or pseudomonas folliculitis. It is a skin condition that arises within a few hours to a few days after bathing in lukewarm water, for example in a spa pool, hot tub, or lukewarm pool. It can affect several people within 8 hours to 5 days of exposure. However, some exposed people do not develop the infection.

A similar eruption It can occur when wearing a wetsuit that has not been fully washed and dried after previous use. Pseudomonas folliculitis has also been reported in an industrial plant with a closed-loop water recycling system.

On rare occasions, an aeromonas infection has been reported after bathing in a spa pool.

What are the symptoms of folliculitis in spa pools?

Spa pool folliculitis is a eruption scattered small red or itchy bumps, some of which are pustular. They occur mainly in areas that were covered by the bathing suit.

Some people with folliculitis in the spa pool do not feel well. They may have an earache, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, headache and / or mild fever.

Spa pool folliculitis rarely progresses to a more serious infection, ecthyma gangrenosum, in people who have a weak immune system, for example, those taking immunosuppressive medications.

What is the cause of folliculitis?

Spa Pool Folliculitis Is Due To Chance bacterial skin infection, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This can survive in warm water, even when properly chlorinated, due to a biofilm on the surface of the bathtub or inside the plumbing system. Contamination is more common if the water is not properly treated or if organic material is present, such as skin.

Concern has been expressed that strains of bacteria that have survived chlorination may be resistant to multiple drugs.

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How is spa pool folliculitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of folliculitis in spa pools is made clinically by observing a typical rash of papules and pustules in the trunk of a person who has bathed in a hot tub in recent days.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is isolated from the pustule swabs. Sensitivities to antibiotics should be reported as there are several isolates. Many of these are resistant to multiple antibiotics.

What is the treatment of folliculitis in spa pools?

P. aeruginosa does not survive long on normal, healthy skin, so spa pool folliculitis usually resolves on its own within a few days.

Mild cases of folliculitis in spa pools do not require treatment. Extensive or severe folliculitis in the spa pool due to pseudomonas infection can be treated with current or systemic Antibiotics active against Gram negative bacteria (Gram stain is used during microscopy or cytology of a skin swab), such as:

• Gentamicin cream
• Polymyxin B spray
• Oral ciprofloxacin

The responsible pool must be properly cleaned and disinfected with proper chlorination or other method.