Virulence factors and infection ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a hydropathic facility and respiratory infections.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the virulence pool and acute infection ability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a hydropathic facility, used to treat respiratory conditions by inhalation of untreated natural mineral water, with clinical isolates from respiratory infections.


RESULTS
Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates from a hydropathic facility and from respiratory infections were typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Nonclonal representatives of each population were selected. 18 virulence-encoding genes were screened by polymerase chain reaction and statistically compared by multiple correspondence analysis. Homogeneous distribution of genes between populations but higher genetic association in aquatic isolates was observed, as well as distinct virulence pool according to location in the water system. Acute infection ability of selected isolates from each population, in Galleria mellonella model, showed lower LD50 of the majority of the hydropathic isolates and significant variations in LD50 of biofilm isolates from different equipments.


CONCLUSIONS
Hydrotherapy Ps. aeruginosa isolates present similar virulence to isolates from respiratory infections. Hydrotherapy users may be exposed to different microbiological risks when using different treatment equipments.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-one million people use hydropathic facilities in Europe, and the majority present risk factors to pneumonia. This study demonstrates the health risk associated with this practice. Revision of European regulations should be considered.
Center for Pharmaceutical Studies, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
S G
SG
Pereira
A C
AC
Rosa
A S
AS
Ferreira
L M
LM
Moreira
D N
DN
Proença
P V
PV
Morais
O
O
Cardoso
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms; D005060:Europe; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D037521:Virulence Factors
Pseudomonas aeruginosa; infection control; pneumonia; respiratory infections; surveillance; waterborne infections