Publications

No detection of Candida in Lebanese water supplies have been performed to date. This study could be used to assess the quality of Lebanese water as a possible contaminant of national water supplies, which is currently a major concern for the Lebanese population. This study is a first step of a series of studies that aim at detecting a possible link between the presence of Candida in water and the incidence of oral candidiasis, whilst taking into consideration various properties of water to screen for favorable conditions of Candida infection spread. Abstract-The prevalence of Candida spp. (species) was inspected in 105 water samples (45 potable water, 50 community tap water, and 10 spring water samples), in parallel with the concentration of four different metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn) that are part of Candida quorum sensing mechanism. Candida spp. were isolated from 84 of 105 (80%) samples. Prevailing species were Candida Krusei, isolated from 67 samples, Candida parapsilosis, from 38, and Candida glabrata, from 34, Candida tropicalis from 25, Candida albicans from 12, and 5 other species of Candida. There was a significant correlation between the concentration of zinc in water and the presence of Candida (P<0.001). These results are the first to confirm the presence of Candida in Lebanese water supplies, and suggest that potable, tap and natural water in Lebanon may be a potential transmission route for Candida both in hospitals and community water supplies.