Cent Eur J Public Health 2020, 28(1):74-78 | DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a5814

Microbial contamination and infection risks of narghile besides hazards of tobacco

Mustafa Altindis¹, Mehmet Koroglu¹, Tayfur Demiray², Kerem Yilmaz¹, Mustafa Baran Inci³, Mehmet Olmez¹, Selma Altindis⁴, Unal Erkorkmaz⁵

¹Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

²Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Sakarya University Education, Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey

³Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

⁴Department of Health Administration, Faculty of Business School, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

⁵Department of Statistics, Faculty of Medicine, Sakarya University, Sakarya, Turkey

Objective: Water-pipe smoking has become a serious public health threat worldwide. In order to raise awareness of adverse effects and transmission of bacteria via water-pipe smoking, we aimed to identify the bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance profiles that colonize different parts of waterpipes.

Methods: We examined totally 182 water pipes from 7 lounges (in Turkey) used in public places and we collected 728 culture samples in total by microbiological methods. We used disposable sterile swabs to sample the inside and outside of the mouthpiece, and the handling piece and sterile injectors were used to collect 5 mL of water from the water pipe bowl.

Results: There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in microbial contamination (growth/presence of bacteria and fungi) among the parts of the water pipes sampled. There was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in the number of bacteria growing (microbial load) among the parts of the water pipes. Only one narghile lounge out of seven, which had 13 water pipes, had a hygiene procedure. The water jars are often contaminated with Gram-negative bacteria.

Conclusion: Water pipes, especially the interior and outer part of the mouthpieces and the handle, are colonized by microbes and pose a risk of infection. Procedures for water pipe hygiene should be developed, periods should be defined, and the owners and employees of establishments and water-pipe smokers should be educated in this regard. Water-pipe smoking is a threat to public health and should be regulated by the state.

Keywords: narghile, microbial contamination, infection risks

Received: May 8, 2019; Revised: March 20, 2020; Accepted: March 20, 2020; Published: March 30, 2020  Show citation