Public Health, Public Health education, travel medicine, water contamination, water safety

Introduction: Access to safe drinking water is essential for population health and prevention ofwaterborne diseases. Within the project NFP403401DYA6 “Increasing the level of undergraduate andpostgraduate education in public health aspects of water contamination” (02/2025–01/2027) under theInterreg Slovakia–Czech Republic programme, a laboratory experiment demonstrated water filtrationand disinfection using Escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination.Aim: To implement and evaluate a practical demonstration of water treatment systems as an innovativeteaching activity within an international Public Health exchange program.Method: Eight commercially available filtration and disinfection products were tested under laboratoryconditions. Water samples were artificially contaminated with E. coli (10,000 CFU per milliliter);untreated water served as a positive control. Detection of E. coli and coliform bacteria was performedusing cultivation methods. Each test was conducted in duplicate and evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively. The activity was delivered as part of a structured teaching session.Results: Control samples were positive for E. coli in all cases, confirming the sensitivity of the testsused. Sanosil DDW® proved ineffective as contamination persisted in all tests (Lovibond® Dipslides:10³ CFU; Petrifilm®: TNTC >150 CFU/plate, AQUAtip®: positive). A single positive result wasrecorded in one AQUAtip® test with the MM-Hygiene® filter, probably due to accidentalcontamination. The other systems tested showed complete elimination of detectable bacterialcontamination. Students compared different treatment approaches and interpreted microbiologicalfindings in a practical context.Conclusion: The experimental demonstration enriched Public Health education by linking theory withhands-on experience and supporting cross-border collaboration in water safety education.

Introduction: Access to safe drinking water is essential for population health and prevention ofwaterborne diseases. Within the project NFP403401DYA6 “Increasing the level of undergraduate andpostgraduate education in public health aspects of water contamination” (02/2025–01/2027) under theInterreg Slovakia–Czech Republic programme, a laboratory experiment demonstrated water filtrationand disinfection using Escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination.Aim: To implement and evaluate a practical demonstration of water treatment systems as an innovativeteaching activity within an international Public Health exchange program.Method: Eight commercially available filtration and disinfection products were tested under laboratoryconditions. Water samples were artificially contaminated with E. coli (10,000 CFU per milliliter);untreated water served as a positive control. Detection of E. coli and coliform bacteria was performedusing cultivation methods. Each test was conducted in duplicate and evaluated qualitatively and semiquantitatively. The activity was delivered as part of a structured teaching session.Results: Control samples were positive for E. coli in all cases, confirming the sensitivity of the testsused. Sanosil DDW® proved ineffective as contamination persisted in all tests (Lovibond® Dipslides:10³ CFU; Petrifilm®: TNTC >150 CFU/plate, AQUAtip®: positive). A single positive result wasrecorded in one AQUAtip® test with the MM-Hygiene® filter, probably due to accidentalcontamination. The other systems tested showed complete elimination of detectable bacterialcontamination. Students compared different treatment approaches and interpreted microbiologicalfindings in a practical context.Conclusion: The experimental demonstration enriched Public Health education by linking theory withhands-on experience and supporting cross-border collaboration in water safety education.