title: Quality of Drinking Water Treated at Point of Use in Residential Healthcare Facilities for the Elderly.
abstract: Municipal tap water is increasingly treated at the point of use (POU) to improve the acceptability and palatability of its taste. The aim of this study was to assess the bacteriologic and nutritional characteristics of tap water treated at the point of use in residential healthcare facilities for the elderly. Two types of POU devices were used: microfiltered water dispensers (MWDs) and reverse-osmosis water dispensers (ROWDs). All samples of water entering the devices and leaving them were tested for the bacteriological parameters set by Italian regulations for drinking water and for opportunistic pathogens associated with various infections in healthcare settings; in addition, the degree of mineralization of the water was assessed. The results revealed widespread bacterial contamination in the POU treatment devices, particularly from potentially pathogenic species. As expected, the use of ROWDs led to a decrease in the saline content of the water. In conclusion, the use of POU treatment in healthcare facilities for the elderly can be considered advisable only if the devices are constantly and carefully maintained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Education Sciences, Hygiene, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy. rossella.sacchetti@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy. giovanna.deluca@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, UO Food Hygiene and Nutrition, Local Health Unit of Bologna, Via Altura 5, 40100 Bologna, Italy. emilia.guberti@ausl.bologna.it.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guberti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, Unit of Hygiene, Public Health and Medical Statistics, University of Bologna, Via San Giacomo 12, 40126 Bologna, Italy. franca.zanetti@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanetti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000592:standards*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000592:standards*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: drinking water; healthcare facilities for the elderly; mineral content of drinking water; opportunistic pathogens; point-of-use devices