Analysis of the Content of Escherichia Coli in Public Bathing Pools Before and After Using Visitors

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is a bacterium that commonly causes diarrhea almost all over the world. E. coli can grow well on almost all media commonly used to isolate enteric bacteria. E. coli bacteria are organisms that generally live in the human digestive tract. E. coli bacteria are commonly found in polluted swimming pools, causing its users. AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the difference in E. coli content in swimming pool water in public baths. METHODS: The method in this study uses a descriptive survey method. The research location is at the Poltekkes Laboratory of the Ministry of Health, Aceh, October to December 2021. Sampling is at one of the natural attractions used for public baths in the Aceh Besar area. The subject of this research is swimming pool water in public baths for children as much as 5 points of 5 L/point, and adults 5 points of 5 L/point; all water taken is 50 L. RESULTS: The results showed that before visitors bathed in the swimming pool, the number of E. coli colonies had a minimal average (12.1) with a deviation of 4.977. The distribution of the number of E. coli colonies after 9 h was used by visitors, which had an average E. coli colony of 190.9 with a deviation of 30.490 MPN, who received that the intervention also showed that the number of E. coli colonies after 9 h was very high, with an average of 159.4 and a deviation of 32.898 MPN. CONCLUSION: There is a difference in the average content of E. coli before and after using public baths by visitors. The number of users of public baths affects the number of microorganisms in the water, such as E. coli and Enterococci.