Pseudomonas in plastic bottles

Question

Dear ladies and gentlemen,
am 18 years old, suffer from CF and have a question about the growing of diverse germs (Pseudomonas etc) in 1.5 l plastic bottles with diverse beverages (cola, lemonade etc., however also mineral water).
My CF center recommends, not to drink the next day from a bottle that has been opened the day before, as there had been studies, who showed a colonization with germs.
One should use rather glas bottles or smaller bottles. My question is now, are those studies known to you? And is there indeed the recommendation Europe-wide not to drink such beverages the next day anymore?
Many thanks for your answer,
D.

Answer

Dear D.,
it is known, that humid germs, like Pseudomonas aerugionsa (PA) can be found frequently in stagnant waters. Also in water or liquid containers, in which water remains (e.g. aquariums, house fountains, humidifiers of heatings i.a.) PA germs can multiply. Therefore it is imaginable, that in bottles, which remain open for a longer period of time and which are filled with liquids, it could come to growth of germs and this independently if it deals with glas or plastic bottles. Therefore, for hygiene reasons, beverages in bottles should be drank at short notice. What means "short notice" in this case, can be derived from the common sense. During a quick research and an additional questioning of our microbiological expert, I did not come across any investigation, that defines the time frame more precisely and that points at a special risk using plastic bottles.
On the other hand, there are different investigations that point at a health risk when drinking water from palstic bottles due to the chemical substances of the plastic, that might reach the water and harm the health of human beings. In how far water or other beverages from plastic bottles are unhealthy, is not clarified unambigously until now. Either from the hygiene institute nor from the health authorities there have been published any recommendations so far concerning the usage of plastic bottles. In order to be very sure, not to drink mineral water that might be chemically charged, one should buy beverages in glas bottles, as the measured harming substances were markedly lower here. Who does however want to go on using plastic bottles (lighter, more practicable), should pay attention to buy returnable bottles (these are made of a harder plastic and have therefore a smaller amount of softeners).
Plastic bottles should furthermore not to be refilled too often, as then there might indeed be an accumulation of harming substances and additionally of bacteria.
Also important: plastic bottles should not be stored at too high temperatures (especially not in the sun, as via the UV-light and heat even more substances can reach the water from the plastic). In general, one should not drink water anymore that smells or tastes like plastic.
I hope to have helped you with the answer a bit and stay with my best regards,
Yours
Dr. med. Christina Smaczny

27.02.2016