Patterns of occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in public playgrounds

Public playgrounds are critical spaces for child development but may also serve as reservoirs and transmission pathways for potentially pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Despite growing evidence linking urban environments with microbial hazards, systematic data on bacterial contamination and resistance profiles in playgrounds remain scarce. To address this gap, 33 playgrounds in Lublin, Poland, were screened for Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, including antibiotic-resistant strains. In total, 330 environmental samples were collected, and statistical analyses assessed associations between bacterial contamination and specific playground attractions or substrate materials. E. coli and S. aureus were detected in 50 (15%) and 15 (4.5%) samples, respectively. The presence of E. coli was strongly associated with sandboxes. For S. aureus, the highest risk was linked to structures touched by hand. Antibiotic resistance profiling revealed that among 80 E. coli isolates, resistance was highest to ampicillin (32.5%), followed by tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole (23.8%). Moderate resistance was observed for trimethoprim (20%), streptomycin (18.8%), ciprofloxacin (17.5%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (16.2%). For S. aureus, resistance was highest to penicillin (86.7%), followed by erythromycin (13.3%). Multidrug resistance occurred in 21.3% of E. coli isolates, with no association with location or material. These findings underscore the need to monitor playground bacterial contamination and promote hygiene awareness in public spaces.