Opportunistic Pathogens Mycobacterium Avium Complex (MAC) and Legionella spp. Colonise Model Shower

Pathogens

Harriet Whiley²  Steven Giglio¹  Richard Bentham² 

[1] Healthscope Pathology SA, 1 Goodwood Rd, Wayville 5034, South Australia; E-Mail:;School of the Environment, Health and the Environment, Flinders University, GPO BOX 2100, Adelaide 5001, Australia; E-Mail:

关键词: Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC);    non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM);    Legionella spp.;    Legionella pneumophila;    potable water;    showers;    model;    biofilm;   

DOI  :  10.3390/pathogens4030590

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Legionella spp. and Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) are opportunistic pathogens of public health concern. Hot water systems, including showers, have been identified as a potential source of infection. This paper describes the colonization of Legionella and MAC on the flexible tubing within a model potable shower system, utilizing thermostatic mixing and a flexible shower head. A MAC qPCR method of enumeration was also developed. MAC and Legionella spp. were detected within the biofilm at maximum concentrations of 7.0 × 10⁴ and 2.0 × 10³ copies/cm² PVC tubing respectively. No significant changes were observed between sample of the flexible shower tubing that dried between uses and those that remained filled with water. This suggested the “unhooking” showerheads and allowing them to dry is not an effective method to reduce the risk of Legionella or MAC colonisation.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.