Resumen

Previous studies support the hypothesis that there is a direct correlation between the development of external otitis and other infectious disease, and swiming in water containated with some bacterial strains. For this reason periodic evaluations of bacteriological quality of water as well antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of possible isolated organisms, are necessary. We evaluated two provinces of Venezuela, Aragua and Carabobo. In these regions we investigated bacterial contamination in swiming pools and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Setting: Sixty recreational swiming pools of Maracay (Aragua) and Valencia (Carabobo). Study population: Samples fro pools corresponded 75% from Valencia and 25% from Maracay. Methodology: Pool water samples were taken according published recomendations, after that samples were processed and bacterial strains identified with standard cultures and biochemical tests. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was assessed by an agar disk diffusion method using Mueller-Hinton agar as recomended by the National Comittee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Isolates were tested against 14 drugs, including: piperacillin, ceftazidime, cefoperazone, amikacin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, meropene and imipenem, among others. Results: In both regions, 19/60 pools (32%) were bacterial contaminated; 13/15 from Maracay (87%) and 6/45 from Valencia (13%) (p < 0.05). Pathogens isolated were: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13 strains) (68%), Streptococcus sp. (12 strains) (63%) and Staphylococcus sp. (10 strains) (53%). From total isolated strains (35), only 6 (17.1%) strains were found resistant at least to one antimicrobial. P. Aeruginosa showed resistance only against oxifloxacin (1/13, 7.7%). Streptococcus sp. was susceptible to all tested drugs. Five Staphylococcus sp. strains were resistant at least to one drug (50.0%); 30% to chlora phenicol, 20% to erythromycin, 10% to TMP-SMX, 10% to methicillin and 10% to clindamycin. Conclusions: As illnesses normally contracted in a swiming pool are mostly those of the skin rather than intestinal, it is suggested that the best indicators of the hygienic condition of water in a swiming pool are staphylococci because of their resistance to disinfection, high numbers in the environment, and ease of recovery. But also, poor-quality water in swiming pools is associated with a substantial risk of external otitis due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An extensive follow-up study is needed to deter ine the other possible health risks associated with public pools, including acquire an infection with an antimicrobial resistant bacterial strain.

Palabras clave: Pools bacterial resistance surveillance epidemiology.

2008-02-05   |   1,282 visitas   |   Evalua este artículo 0 valoraciones

Vol. 39 Núm.1. Enero-Junio 2008 Pags. 11-14 Rev Soc Med Quir Hosp Emerg Perez de Leon 2008; 39(1)