Abstract
BackgroundLaboratory analysis of organisms in water include arduous methods, such as the multiple tube and membrane filter. The ATP bioluminescence system, proposes a new way of measuring cellular material in water by measuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, which are expressed in relative light units (RLU). The ATP bioluminescence assay has been increasingly used to assess the microbiological safety of the hospital environment. However, there are few studies investigating the use of this methodology to evaluate the microbiological quality of water. The objective of the present study was to verify whether ATP, as measured by the 3 M™ Clean-Trace Water™ ATP test, can be used as an alternative tool for presumptive testing for the presence of microorganisms in hospital water.MethodsWater samples (N = 88) were collected from faucets (74) and water purifiers (14) in a university hospital. The sample were filtered by the membrane filter technique (100 mL for bacterial analysis and 100 mL for fungal analysis) and then submitted to ATP bioluminescence assay to the determine quantity of RLU in each sample. In order to compare RLU and the presence of microorganisms, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate sensitivity and specificity (levels higher than 90% were considered significant). In addition, control tests were conducted to compare RLU to the quantities of bacterial and fungal organisms added to distilled water (ANOVA and Tukey’s tests; p ≤ 0.05). This inoculum was compared to RLU emission, and the data were analyzed by calculating the Pearson’s correlation coefficient, with a 95% confidence interval.ResultsIn the present study, 94.3% of the water samples presented bacterial growth. Of these, 15.6% showed heterotrophic bacteria above recommended levels and fungal contamination was detected in 55.6% of samples. Sensitivity and specificity of the samples were not significant (< 90%), and the correlation between ATP and the presence of these microorganisms in the samples (hospital water) was not significant, whereas, in distilled water, the results revealed a significant difference (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThese results demonstrated that the ATP test cannot be used as an alternative tool for presumptive assessment of the presence of microorganisms in water.
Highlights
Laboratory analysis of organisms in water include arduous methods, such as the multiple tube and membrane filter
The objective of the present study was to verify whether adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence can be used as an alternative methodology for presumptive testing for presence of microorganisms in water, by confirming that there is a correlation between relative light units (RLU) and the presence of these microorganisms
In order to compare RLU and the presence of microorganisms, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate sensitivity and specificity: levels higher than 90% were considered significant
Summary
Laboratory analysis of organisms in water include arduous methods, such as the multiple tube and membrane filter. Subsequent studies have included alternative, less laborious methods of quantitative and qualitative analysis that use chromogenic and fluorogenic substrates and maintain high specificity and sensitivity along with speed [2, 3]. Among these methods, the membrane filter method stands out. It is considered a feasible laboratory procedure that allows for bacterial colony counts [1] Another methodology, similar to the ATP bioluminescence system, has been proposed as a new method of measuring cellular material in water by measuring levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) [4]
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