www.nidcc-ljid.org 57 THE LIBYAN JOURNAL OF Infectious Diseases Vol. 1 No.1 Jan-2007 The Official Periodical of the Libyan National Center for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control THE LIBYAN JOURNAL OF Infectious Diseases The Official Periodical of the Libyan National Center for Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control Vol. 1 No.1 Jan-2007 Bacteriological Quality of Drinking Water Obtained from Mosques in Tripoli, Libya Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh 1 , Khalifa Belhaj 2 , Amna Algaui 2 , Enas Alturki 2 , Amal Rahouma 1 and Salaheddin Abeid 1 1- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh Univeristy, Tripoli-Libya 2- Department of Botany, Faculty of Sciences, Al-Fateh Univeristy, Tripoli- Libya ABSTRACT Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the bacteriological quality of drinking water provided for worshipers by Mosques in Tripoli and the susceptibility of isolated bacteria to antimicrobial agents. Methods: Water samples taken from 50 mosques were examined for coliform, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas sp. and fecal streptococci counts. Also, samples were investigated for the presence of Aeromonas sp., Klebsiella sp. and Pseudomonas sp. Isolated bacteria were tested for their resistance to antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. Results: Mean counts for coliforms, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas sp. were 2.2 x 10 2 , 6.2 x10 1 , 2.5 x 10 3 and 2.8 x 10 2 respectively. Fecal streptococci not detected. E. coli was detected in 7 (14%) samples, Klebsiella sp. in 13 (26%), Aeromonas in 9 (18%) and Pseudomonas sp. in 32 (64%). More than 79% of the bacteria examined were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Conclusion: Presence of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacteria is not uncommon in drinking water provided for worshipers by mosques in Tripoli, Libya and may pose a health hazard to users of such water, particularly the aged and the immunocompromised. Correspondence and reprint request: Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh Department of Medical Microbiology,Faculty of Medicine, Al-Fateh University, P.O. Box 80013, Tripoli – Libya E-mail: ghenghesh_micro@yahoo.com Received : 30/ 11/ 2006, Accepted : 28 / 12/ 2006 Key words: Water, Bateriological quality, Coliforms, Aeromonas, Mosques, Libya. Original Article INTRODUCTION In the nineties of last century a number of studies on well water used for drinking in Tripoli showed that the bacteriological quality of such water sources is not compliant with the local and World Health Organization standards for drinking water (1,2). The use of contaminated water for drinking may lead to waterborne diseases. Well water is used for other purposes that include bathing, washing clothes, and cooking. In many Muslim countries, well water is also used for wodoo (i.e. washing of hands, mouth, nares, face, arms, hair and feet before praying). Praying in mosques, particularly the Friday prayer is part of Muslims belife. In addition to providing water for wodoo, the mosque authorities are required to provide water for drinking. Most of the mosques in Tripoli have wells and the water from the wells is usually pumped into large metal containers placed on the roofs of the mosques. In the past, water used for drinking in mosques was placed 49