[Microbiological aspects of the environment of deep sea habitats]

It is known that the hyperbaric environment facilitates selection of gram-negative microorganisms which acquire ecological predominance. From this point of view deep sea habitats can be regarded as a specific anthropotechnological niche for pathogenic microorganisms, particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa A. aeruginosa colonization of the mucosa and skin of deep sea divers may result in infection manifestations which took place in chamber experiments when test subjects showed otitis externa and when virulent strains were isolated. It was demonstrated that the basic reservoir of P. aeruginosa was the water supply system. Hence, development of a reliable method for its disinfection should be of highest priority. One of the potential methods is SHF treatment. Another important approach is personal hygiene procedures preventing skin and mucosa contamination with potentially pathogenic microorganisms and procedures for increasing colonization resistance of divers with the aid of eubiotic therapy.