Helicobacter
pylori is a bacterium that causes 75 percent of stomach
ulcers. Previous studies have demonstrated that antibiotic treatment will
cure 95 percent of these stomach ulcers. However, no one knows how humans
acquire this bacteria. A recent article by researchers in the Department
of Environmental Engineering at Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg,
Pa., reported a direct link between the presence of Helicobacter
pylori in a person's well water and stomach ulcers ( accepted in the
Journal of Applied Microbiology). People that had this bacterium in
their well water were more likely to have stomach ulcers.
Katherine H. Baker headed a team that found the Helicobacter pylori in 65 percent of the private wells in rural areas of Pennsylvania and Ohio (United States). This data suggests that well water may serve as an important reservoir for the bacterium outside the human body. It also suggests that drinking contaminated well water is the most likely means by which a person is infected by this bacterium.
Quality water is expensive to maintain. Sometimes what we don't know can hurt us. For more information on this interesting study go to the following: American Society for Microbiology new releases.
Take Care and Think Microbiologically!
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The copyright of the article Well Water: A Source of Ulcer-Causing Bacteria in Microbiology is owned by . Permission to republish Well Water: A Source of Ulcer-Causing Bacteria in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
