Prevention of contamination of oral rehydration fluids.

A treated city water supply and most waters tested from several tourist hotels in a popular international resort were found to be microbiologically safe for drinking, but untreated domestic water supplies and locally prepared soft drinks frequently had high levels of bacterial contamination and faecal pollution. A novel oral rehydration mixture, based on fruit juice cordial which kills intestinal bacteria in vitro, was effective for treating young children with diarrhoea and mild to moderate dehydration in the same environment.