Fungal disease is on the rise, coupled with fungal pathogens increasing in geographic range. Studies have shown that viable fungal pathogens may be present in beach sand and water, and consequently, efforts are ongoing in Europe to develop guidelines for fungi levels at beaches. In the USA, fungal diseases are a growing concern, and yet, they are not subject to public health reporting, and beach environments are currently not routinely monitored for fungal pathogens. This study measured fungal and enterococci levels at two beaches within a subtropical environment in Miami, FL. Samples were analyzed by culture-based methods, with fungi species confirmation by targeted PCR and sequencing. A unique aspect of this study is the analysis with higher incubation temperatures (37 °C and 40 °C) to isolate mesophilic fungi that can cause invasive infections. Results show that levels of fungi were strongly influenced by sample matrix (sand or water). The most common fungal species observed belonged to the Aspergillus and Candida genera, with the isolation of 25 taxa with reports of causing infections, of which 20 were previously reported to exhibit resistance to some or all classes of antifungals available. Results emphasize the need for fungal specific analyses to better understand beach-related disease risks. Given the current increase in cases of fungal diseases and the presence of viable fungi in the environment, integrating fungal measurements in routine microbiological monitoring programs is critical for assessing the beach transmission of pathogenic fungal disease and the control of emerging fungal pathogens.

Current regulations and legislation promote water reuse as a response to the global water crisis, while simultaneously highlighting the need for an urgent revision to ensure the protection of public health. Changes to these regulatory frameworks are generally supported by scientific evidence, particularly when defining the most appropriate water quality parameters to be monitored. In a previous study, our group proposed that Norovirus genogroups I and II should be further investigated as potential indicators for water quality monitoring, and, consequently, for assessing wastewater treatment efficiency. In the present study, we evaluated the presence of these enteric viruses, together with hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses, using real-time PCR. Additionally, we assessed the occurrence of Clostridioides difficile—an undervalued pathogen that represents a major cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea, increasingly raising concern in community settings—alongside currently established microbiological parameters. Samples were collected from two stages of wastewater treatment and from water intended for reuse. Water quality was further evaluated using a bioluminescence-based bioassay. Overall, this proof-of-concept study supports the inclusion of Norovirus genogroup II and Clostridioides difficile as complementary microbial indicators for assessing the safety of water for reuse, particularly within the context of European regulatory standards.