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Staphylococcus aureus —An Additional Parameter of Bathing Water Quality for Crowded Urban Beaches

Author

Listed:
  • Nancy Topić

    (Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Arijana Cenov

    (Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Slaven Jozić

    (Laboratory of Microbiology, Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, P.O. Box 500, 21000 Split, Croatia)

  • Marin Glad

    (Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Diana Mance

    (Department of Physics, University of Rijeka, Radmile Matejčić 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Dražen Lušić

    (Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
    Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, Viktora Cara Emina 5, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Damir Kapetanović

    (Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Bijenička Cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia)

  • Davor Mance

    (Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka, Ivana Filipovića 4, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

  • Darija Vukić Lušić

    (Department of Environmental Health, Teaching Institute of Public Health of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Krešimirova 52a, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
    Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Braće Branchetta 20, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia)

Abstract

During the last years, the report of the occurrence of waterborne disease symptoms related to non-enteric pathogens has increased, without any record of higher levels of indicator bacteria ( Escherichia coli and intestinal enterococci). Therefore, the use of current indicators is not always adequate when assessing the overall potential health risk and the inclusion of additional parameters needs to be examined. This paper reports on the incidence and levels of Staphylococcus aureus at 258 locations in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County (Croatia) recorded by official bathing water quality monitoring, as well as supplemental monitoring carried out at the two most frequented beaches in the City of Rijeka. The number of bathers was found to be the main factor affecting S. aureus levels (r = 0.321, p < 0.05). The share of S. aureus positive samples from the official monitoring was significantly lower, when compared to the share of samples from supplemental monitoring (2.2% and 36.3%, respectively; p < 0.01). Besides the number of bathers, one of the main reasons is likely the higher sampling frequency. No correlation was found between S. aureus levels and the indicator bacteria. The results indicate that the determination of S. aureus and increased sampling frequency is recommended for overcrowded beaches.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy Topić & Arijana Cenov & Slaven Jozić & Marin Glad & Diana Mance & Dražen Lušić & Damir Kapetanović & Davor Mance & Darija Vukić Lušić, 2021. "Staphylococcus aureus —An Additional Parameter of Bathing Water Quality for Crowded Urban Beaches," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5234-:d:554747
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Asja Korajkic & Brian R. McMinn & Valerie J. Harwood, 2018. "Relationships between Microbial Indicators and Pathogens in Recreational Water Settings," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-39, December.
    2. Panagiotis Papastergiou & Varvara Mouchtouri & Ourania Pinaka & Anna Katsiaflaka & George Rachiotis & Christos Hadjichristodoulou, 2012. "Elevated Bathing-Associated Disease Risks Despite Certified Water Quality: A Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cintia Hernández-Sánchez & Ángel Antonio Pestana-Ríos & Cristina Villanova-Solano & Cristopher Domínguez-Hernández & Francisco Javier Díaz-Peña & Cristobalina Rodríguez-Álvarez & María Lecuona & Ángel, 2023. "Bacterial Colonization of Microplastics at the Beaches of an Oceanic Island, Tenerife, Canary Islands," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-11, February.
    2. João Brandão & Chelsea Weiskerger & Elisabete Valério & Tarja Pitkänen & Päivi Meriläinen & Lindsay Avolio & Christopher D. Heaney & Michael J. Sadowsky, 2022. "Climate Change Impacts on Microbiota in Beach Sand and Water: Looking Ahead," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Romina Kraus & Vanja Baljak & Darija Vukić Lušić & Lado Kranjčević & Arijana Cenov & Marin Glad & Vesna Kauzlarić & Dražen Lušić & Luka Grbčić & Marta Alvir & Marijana Pećarević & Slaven Jozić, 2022. "Impacts of Atmospheric and Anthropogenic Factors on Microbiological Pollution of the Recreational Coastal Beaches Neighboring Shipping Ports," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-25, July.

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