Identification of culturable bacteria present in haemodialysis water and fluid

Abstract

Water used to prepare haemodialysis fluid is not sterile, and its microbiological control is important for the prevention of haemodialysis- associated illness. Bacterial populations inhabiting a distribution system for haemodialysis water were studied over an 18-month period. 203 planktonic bacteria isolated on R2A medium were identified by restriction analysis and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. A diverse bacterial community was detected, containing predominantly Gram-negative members of the Alphaproteobacteria and Betaproteobacteria, as well as representatives of the genus Mycobacterium. Ecological and clinical consequences are discussed: bacteria from the genera Novosphingobium, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas have been described in the build-up of biofilms, and others like Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium or Brevibacterium may represent a health risk to patients under haemodialysis treatment. © 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.