Microbiological Quality, Physicochemical Characteristics, and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Recreational Swimming Pool Water in Selected Hotels in South-South, Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64074/kkkp7346Keywords:
Swimming Pool, Recreational Water, Microbiological Quality, Coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, NigeriaAbstract
Background: Hotel swimming pools are widely used for leisure, yet inadequate disinfection and maintenance can turn them into vehicles for recreational water illness. Data from Edo State, Nigeria, are scarce. Objective: To assess the microbiological quality, selected physicochemical characteristics and maintenance practices of hotel swimming pools in Ekpoma, and the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates recovered. Methods: In this cross-sectional study (June–August 2024), one water sample was collected aseptically from each of 15 hotel swimming pools. pH, temperature, colour, transparency and total dissolved solids (TDS) were measured, and maintenance practices were recorded. Heterotrophic bacteria and fungi were enumerated, coliforms were estimated by multiple-tube fermentation (most probable number, MPN), isolates were identified by cultural, microscopic and biochemical methods, and susceptibility was tested by disc diffusion. Results: pH (6.9–8.2) was within 6.5–8.5 in all pools, whereas temperature (24.0–28.5 °C) exceeded 26 °C in three. TDS ranged from 22 to 441 mg/L. Heterotrophic bacterial counts (1.2–8.0 × 104 CFU/mL) exceeded the 100 CFU/mL benchmark in all 15 pools; fungi were counted in five pools (1.5–2.5 × 104 CFU/mL); and presumptive coliforms (1–5 MPN/100 mL) were detected in every pool. Thirty-three isolates representing seven taxa were recovered. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent (12 isolates, 36.4%; present in 80% of pools), followed by Escherichia coli (6 pools, 40%), Bacillus spp. (33.3%), Klebsiella spp. (26.7%), Rhizopus spp. (20.0%), Salmonella spp. (13.3%) and Providencia spp. (6.7%); the distribution was non-uniform (χ² = 16.85, df = 6, p ≈ 0.01). Gram-negative isolates were uniformly susceptible to amoxicillin, amoxicillin–clavulanate, imipenem, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone and cefixime but uniformly non-susceptible to ofloxacin; Gram-positive isolates were non-susceptible to azithromycin. Conclusions: None of the pools met the microbiological benchmarks, despite largely acceptable pH and appearance. Routine microbiological surveillance, operator training and enforceable pool-management standards are needed to protect bathers.
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