Occurrence of P. aeruginosa in Water Intended for Human Consumption and in Swimming Pool Water

Darija Vukić Lušić,Katarina Smolčić,Dražen Lušić,Marin Glad,Sonja Tolić,Željko Linšak,Damir Kapetanović,Sandra Marinac-Pupavac,Dijana Tomić Linšak,Nerma Maestro,Daniel Maestro,Arijana Cenov

doi:10.3390/environments8120132

Abstract

Considering the fact that water is a basic need of every living being, it is important to ensure its safety. In this work, the data on the presence of the opportunistic pathogen P. aeruginosa in drinking water (n = 4171) as well as in pool water (n = 5059) in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in Croatia in the five-year period (2016–2020) were analysed. In addition, the national criteria were compared with those of neighboring countries and worldwide. The proportion of P. aeruginosa-positive samples was similar for drinking water (3.9%) and pool water (4.6%). The prevalence of this bacterium was most pronounced in the warmer season. P. aeruginosa-positive drinking water samples were mostly collected during building commissioning, while pool samples were from entertainment and spa/hydromassage pools. Outdoor pools showed a higher percentage of positive samples than indoor pools, as well as the pools filled with freshwater rather than seawater. The highest P. aeruginosa load was found in rehabilitation pools. Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are countries that have included P. aeruginosa in their national regulations as an indicator of the safety of water for human consumption as well as for bottled water, while Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina have limited this requirement to bottled water only. In the case of swimming pool water, this parameter is mandatory in all countries considered in this study.

Highlights

Genus Pseudomonas belongs to the family Pseudomonadaceae, of which Pseudomas aeruginosa is the most important
P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium that is ubiquitous in the aquatic environment in which it can multiply, and on the surface of suitable
A total of 9230 samples were analyzed during the study. 4171 drinking water samples and 5059 pool water samples from 260 pools were analyzed in Primorje-Gorski Kotar

Summary

Introduction

Genus Pseudomonas belongs to the family Pseudomonadaceae, of which Pseudomas aeruginosa is the most important. Environments 2021, 8, 132 organic materials and filters that come into contact with water. It is capable of colonizing various niches in the aquatic environment as well as numerous moist sites in the soil [1]. It can survive for months in a moist environment. This is due to its good adaptation to environmental conditions, ability to survive in a wide range of temperatures and minimal nutrient requirements. Thermoresistance, i.e., temperature tolerance in the range of 4 to 42 ◦ C, allows its survival in various water media: drinking water, hot baths, distilled water, running and standing water, pool water, etc. [2]

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