[Chlorination and bacterial contamination. Hospitals with troubled waters].
OBJECTIVE
To know the quality of the water from hospitals and the risks that poor chlorination implies.


METHODS
We analyzed 90 water specimens from 15 hospitals (9 from the private and 6 from the public sector). Specimens were obtained from three areas (hospitalization ward, operating room, and kitchen) in two visits.


RESULTS
By microbiologic analysis, we found 30 (33.3%) contaminated specimens. By chemical analysis, we found only 49 (54.5%) specimens with adequate chlorination (> or = 1 mg/L). Of the 30 contaminated specimens, only 7 (23.3%) had adequate chlorination. On the other hand, of the 60 specimens without contamination, 42 (79%) had adequate chlorination (chi2 = 17.561, p < 0.001). The significant difference was sustained when the criterion for appropriate chlorination was established at > or = 0.5 mg/L.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitals require guidelines for water chlorination and testing to maintain it at > or = 0.5 mg/L in every point of use.
Macías
Alejandro E
AE
Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad de Guanajuato. aaeemmhh@yahoo.com
Monroy
Rebeca
R
Muñoz
Juan M
JM
Medina
Humberto
H
Ponce de León
Samuel
S
D002713:Chlorine; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000592:standards*
D002713:Chlorine