[Microbiologic studies of mud for human pathogenic bacteria before and after balneologic use]

To estimate the danger of infection by a mud bath, especially in group baths, 51 mud samples were analysed before and 80 after application for faecal and total coliforms (FC, GC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. The latter two germs were not identified in any of the samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found in about 11% of the samples of both groups. FC and GC were also found before as well as after the bath. Besides E. coli, 9 other strains could be identified. It can be concluded from the data on FC and GC before and after bath, firstly, that a slight faecal contamination is possible, secondly, that the mud can be considerably contaminated with faecal germs even before application. The risk of faecal germs in mud baths causing an epidemic can be neglected, because the bath mud is not swallowed. Therefore, the use of a large-scale mud bath for several patients can be recommended.