Occurrence of chlorine-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospital water systems: threat of waterborne infections for patients.

Background: Several healthcare-associated infection outbreaks have been caused by waterborne Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibiting its ability to colonize water systems and resist conventional chlorine treatment. This study aims to investigate the occurrence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in hospital drinking water systems and the antimicrobial resistance profiles (antibiotic and chlorine resistance) of isolated strains.

Methods: We investigated the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water and biofilms developed in nine hospital water systems (n = 192) using culture-based and molecular methods.

Incidence of co-resistance to antibiotics and chlorine in bacterial biofilm of hospital water systems: Insights into the risk of nosocomial infections.

The presence of biofilms in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) in healthcare settings poses a considerable risk to the biological security of water, particularly when the biofilm bacteria demonstrate antimicrobial resistance characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in biofilms within DWDS of hospitals. The chlorine resistance of the isolated ARB was analyzed, and then chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) were identified using molecular methods.