Calidad microbiológica del agua de bebederos y su asociación con enfermedades gastrointestinales en estudiantes de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud.

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of drinking water from institutional fountains and its relationship with the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms among students of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Catholic University of Santiago de Guayaquil. A quantitative, non- experimental, descriptive and correlational study design was applied, in which water samples were collected from three institutional fountains and analyzed using standardized microbiological methods, including total coliforms, Giardia lamblia, and Cryptosporidium spp., according to the criteria established in NTE INEN 1108:2020; additionally, structured surveys were administered to 391 students to assess water consumption and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The microbiological results showed that 100% of the samples complied with current regulations, presenting total coliform levels below 1.8 MPN/100 mL and absence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp., indicating that the evaluated water was microbiologically safe; however, a high load of molds and yeasts (2.1 × 10⁴ CFU/g) was identified on the external surface of the fountains, revealing suboptimal hygienic conditions at contact points. Regarding the study population, 48.8% reported gastrointestinal symptoms, with abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea being the most frequent manifestations, while statistical analysis showed no significant association between fountain water consumption and the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms (OR = 1.00; 95% CI: 0.66–1.51; p = 1.000). It is concluded that the water from institutional fountains presented adequate microbiological quality and was not associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms in the evaluated population, although the contamination detected on external surfaces suggests the need to strengthen cleaning and disinfection measures to reduce indirect microbial exposure risks.