Avaliação da qualidade microbiológica de águas minerais envasadas - dinâmica populacional de Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Aiming to monitor alterations in the contamination index during storage seventy-five samples, of five distinct brands, of mineral water bottled in cups or plastic bottles of 500 mL and 1500 mL have been evaluated for contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This assessment was conducted in two different periods; the first period was one day after acquiring the samples and the second when the samples completed six months of storage. According to the standards determined by RDC n 275/05 of the Health Ministry (Brazil), 53% of the lots were rejected. The monitoring of the contamination during storage revealed that regardless of some samples have shown growth and other reduction in counts, the Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present, even after 180 days of storage, confirming that it is a microorganism that can fit in nutritionally poor environments.These rejection rates of the samples revealed the need to adopt more appropriate hygiene practices, in order to get safe products which attend to the strict microbiological standards established by the Brazilian legislation.