Narjes Bagheri; Giti Kashi; Hamid Reza Tashauoei
Abstract
AbstractBackground and Aim: Helicobacter pylori is the most common gastrointestinal pathogen infecting more than half of the world's population. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal ulcers (chronic gastritis), stomach cancer, lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to ...
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AbstractBackground and Aim: Helicobacter pylori is the most common gastrointestinal pathogen infecting more than half of the world's population. Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that causes gastrointestinal ulcers (chronic gastritis), stomach cancer, lymphoma, and adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to apply the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for investigating Helicobacter pylori in the tap water of selected hospitals in Tehran in 2020.Materials and Methods: In this study, 22 tap water samples and six well water samples were randomly gathered from the selected hospitals in different areas of Tehran from September 5 to November 20, 2020. The samples were collected in sterile bottles according to the procedure detailed in national standard methods. In this study, Helicobacter pylori was evaluated using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and surface culture. Data analysis was done by SPSS18 software. Results: This study showed Helicobacter pylori in two samples (10.3%) by PCR. The mean values of Helicobacter pylori in tap water and well water samples were 0.18 ± 0.85 and 0.67±1.63, respectively. The mean values of heterotrophic plate count in tap water and well water samples were 0.00 ±0.00 and 7.83±2.10, respectively. The mean values of coliforms, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens, and Streptococcus faecalis in tap water were 0.00 ±0.00.Conclusion: Helicobacter pylori has high persistence in the aquatic environment due to resistance in harsh environments and its absence will be an indicator of proper environmental health. So, according to our results, infection control and preventive strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to Helicobacter pylori for safe water supply are purposed to public health authorities. The evaluation of the biological quality of water (heterotrophic bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium perfringens, and Streptococcus faecalis), physicochemical quality of water, and Helicobacter pylori in water is among the strengths and innovations of this research.