Hospital drinking water a source of infection in Islamabad.

Drinking water is one of the sources of microbial infections. Bacteriology of drinking water supplied to hospitals in Islamabad was studied. Samples from eight hospitals in Islamabad were collected and using the Most Probable Number technique presence of enterobacteriaceae was estimated. Results showed the presence of bacteria in all of the samples. Further purified cultures from positive tests were identified using different biochemical tests. Salmonella typhi was isolated from 5 samples (31%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae from 3 samples (18%) from a total of 16 samples. Physiochemical parameters showed variation in pH temperature and chlorine during two rounds of sampling further it was seen to correspond to bacterial contents of the sample. Presence of such pathogenic organisms in water is a serious human concern to health. (authors)