Estudio microbiológico de las aguas termales del Balneario Turístico Yanayacu ubicado en el Cantón La Troncal perteneciente a la provincia de Cañar.

Abstract

Ecuador has a lot of hot springs, though very little is known about microbiota of these waters. That is why; in this research was carried out a microbiological study of the termal waters at Yanayacu Spa (La Troncal, Cañar province). For this, the microbiota was analyzed in two points where waters emerge in order to determine whether the present microorganisms there in pose a risk. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria were quantified, Escherichia coli/coliforms, Staphylococcus, molds and yeasts using the method in plates 3MTM petrifilm. In the pool total aerobic mesophilic bacteria was 3,28 x102 CFU/mL, coliforms 5 CFU/mL, Staphylococcus 2 CFU/mL, Staphylococcus aureus 1 CFU/mL, there was no presence of Escherichia coli, molds and yeasts. At source the number of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was 9,62 x102 CFU/mL, coliforms 7,8 x101 CFU/ml, Escherichia coli 1 CFU/mL, Staphylococus 2,74 x102 CFU/mL, yeast 7,5 CFU/mL and there was no presence of molds. Bacterial population are gram negative bacilli in 68%, gram positive coccus 20% and gram positive bacilli by 8%, the identified species were Shewanella putrefaciens, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Brevundimonas diminuta, Bacillus spp, Enterococcus flavescens, Aeromonas schubertii. Concerning to antimicrobial susceptibility was found that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was resistant to trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.The only species susceptible to all antibiotics were Brevundimona diminuta, Bacillus spp were resistant to oxacillin, Enterococcus flavescens showed resistance to three antibiotics (clindamycin, oxacillin, cefatolin).None of the species has metallo β lactamases. It is recommended who are in charge of the spa to perform periodic microbiological controls in order to prevent health risks to tourists.