The microbial contamination and the presence of β-lactamase producing Gram-negative bacteria in the water and on the surfaces of public recreation water facilities

• Published in: International journal of environmental health research 2017-07, Vol.27 (4), p.293-305
• Main Authors: Godič Torkar, Karmen, Dražetić, Mirjana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: beta-Lactamases - analysis; CA: clavulanic acid; carbapenemases; CF: coliforms; CFU: colony-forming units; EC: Enterococcus spp; Enterobacteriaceae - isolation & purification; ESBL; ESBL: extended spectrum β-lactamase; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Gram-negative bacteria; Gram-Negative Bacteria - isolation & purification; HPC: heterotrophic plate count; pool water; PS: Pseudomonas spp; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - isolation & purification; resistance; S: sulbactam; Swimming facility; Swimming Pools; Water Microbiology
• ISSN: 0960-3123; 1369-1619
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2017.1342227

The microbiological quality of bathing water and the surfaces of the surrounding pool platforms of two pools was estimated. ESBL- and MBL-producing Gram-negative bacteria isolated from water and surface samples were also studied. The water samples were satisfactory in 31 (86.1 %) out of 36 cases. Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as Escherichia coli were identified in only 2 (5.5 %) cases. There were no correlations between the HPC and number of enterobacteria in the pool water and those found in the surface samples. Isolated strains were resistant to ticarcillin with clavulanic acid in 52.3 % of cases; all of them were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. The sequences for bla CTX-M were found in 21.6 % of strains, mostly from the groups bla CTX-M9 and bla CTX-M25 , whilst the genes for chosen carbapenemases were noted in 15 (17.0 %) of strains. It is necessary to implement new approaches to monitoring resistant bacteria, not only clinical ones but also those found in other public environments.