Bacterial contamination in household and office building tap water

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