Recovery of Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. cepacia from drinking water

Samples of drinking water were examined in order to evaluate the occurrence of two Gram-negative bacteria: Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. cepacia. A total of 85 samples were collected from public and private buildings in the province of Bologna (Italy). Other bacteriological indicators (heterotrophic plate count at 22 and 36°C) were also examined, together with physical and chemical parameters (temperature, pH, residual chlorine, total hardness and chemical oxygen demand (COD)). High levels of B. pseudomallei were recovered (mean value=578 cfu/100 ml) in about 7% of samples, while B. cepacia was recovered in 3.5% (mean value=<1) of the samples. The two microorganisms were found to correlate positively with heterotrophic plate counts at 22 and 36°C, but not with the physical and chemical parameters taken into consideration.