Water
is a source of concern for disseminating the bacteria Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium
avium, which cause lung disease (legionellosis and pulmonary nontuberculous
mycobacterium disease, respectively). A new study has examined the presence of
these microbes in tap water from residences and office buildings across the
United States.
The
occurrence of L. pneumophila and M. avium was largely sporadic. Office
buildings were prone to microbial persistence independent of building age and
square footage. Microbial persistence at residences was observed in those older
than 40 years for L. pneumophila and was rarely observed for M. avium.
The
investigators noted that the lack of consistent detections reduces the
potential to cause an outbreak among a family or group of workers.
See:
M.J.
Donohue, D. King, S. Pfaller, J.H. Mistry. The sporadic nature of Legionella pneumophila
, Legionella pneumophila Sg1 and Mycobacterium avium occurrence within
residences and office buildings across 36 states in the United States. Journal
of Applied Microbiology, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/jam.14196

Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle,
Pharmaceutical Microbiology
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