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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen with a greatest risk of disease in the immunocompromised and is responsible for secondary infections in weak individuals (children, elderly and immunosupressed). The specie is inhabitant of soil and water, it is able to grow at 42 degrees Celsius, and can cause a variety of infections: urinary tract infections, respiratory system infections, dermatitis, soft tissue infections, bacteremia, eye infections and endocarditis. Because of the potential pathogenicity of this bacterium there is a growing necessity to study the presence of P. aeruginosa in drinking water to include this opportunistic organism as indicator of health risk. The new European Directive 98/83/CE does not include the search of P. aeruginosa in treated water, but doesprovide information on the microbiological quality of the water supplied for human consumption, the EPAL Central laboratory started 10 years ago with this analysis. Between 1997 and 2002 there was presence of P. aeruginosa in 40-83% of surface waters (Castelo de Bode reservoir and Tejo River) samples. Nevertheless there was a very low occurrence of the bacteria in drinking water samples tested.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 09/22/2002 Number of Pages: 1 File Size: 1 file , 83 KB