Poorly-maintained whirlpool
baths can be a breeding ground for potentially dangerous
bacteria, research suggests.
A team from Texas A&M University tested
43 water samples from private and public whirlpool baths,
and found all had some kind of microbial growth.
Bacteria derived from faeces were present
in 95% of samples, while 81% had fungi and 34% contained
potentially deadly staphylococcus bacteria.
Details are published in an online journal
called PM Engineer.
Lead researcher Dr Rita Moyes said: "Whirlpool
baths are almost always a prime area for potentially harmful
microbes.
"The main reason is the lining of the
pipes. They are full of inaccessible air, and water in
these pipes tends to get trapped, often for long periods
of time.
"When the jets are then switched on,
this water with harmful bacteria gets blown into the tub
where a person is soaking and then trouble can start."
High levels
Dr Moyes said a teaspoon of normal tap
water contains about 138 bacteria, with many samples not
having any bacteria at all.
A teaspoon of whirlpool tub water, on
the other hand, contained an average of 2.17m bacteria.
Dr Moyes said such harmful bacteria could
lead to numerous diseases, among them urinary tract infections,
septicaemia, pneumonia and several types of skin infections
She said the aerosol mist created by
the whirlpool action could force microbes into the lungs,
or open cuts.
Dr Moyes says that as long ago as 1972,
studies were done to test the bacteria levels in whirlpool
baths and hot tubs, but evidence collected has often not
shown sufficient reasons for concern.
"That's probably because a hot tub or
whirlpool as a source of infection can't be clearly distinguished
from other sources," she said.
She said this was similar to how a doctor
might be able to tell you that you have a respiratory
infection, but not how you got it.
Dr Moyes added: "The best way to prevent
such bacteria from forming is to clean out the pipes.
"The pipes in a whirlpool bathtub need
to be scraped and cleaned just like you need to brush
your teeth with toothpaste.
"We also need to explore effective ways
to prevent the growth of bacteria in whirlpool bathtubs
through new cleaning methods and new technology in tub
design."
Dr John Lee, of the Health Protection
Agency, said people fitting whirlpool baths into their
own homes should be aware of the need for regular cleaning.
"If you don't clean them regularly you
often see discoloured or black bits coming out of the
pipes, which is certainly a warning sign," he said.
He said most commercial and healthcare
operators did clean their products on a regular basis.
Allen Brobyn, of the British and Irish
Spa and Hot Tub Association, stressed the distinction
between whirlpool baths, which are emptied every time
they are used and not routinely sanitised, and hot tubs,
where the water remains in the tub for up to three months
and is treated to ensure safety.
