TY - JOUR
T1 - Drinking water plumbing systems are a hot spot for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens
AU - Hayward, C.
AU - Ross, K. E.
AU - Brown, M. H.
AU - Bentham, R.
AU - Hinds, J.
AU - Whiley, H.
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Background: Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens in drinking water plumbing systems represent a significant yet underestimated public health threat. Methods: This is the first study to use qPCR and culture-based methods to investigate the prevalence of key AMR threats, meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, in Australian hospital and residential drinking water and biofilm samples. Findings: Seventy-three per cent of residential water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for at least one target pathogen compared with 38% of hospital samples, and 45% of residential plumbing fixtures harboured at least two target pathogens. Thirty-seven per cent of water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for P. aeruginosa, 22.3% for A. baumannii and 21.7% for S. aureus. Using culture, 10% of samples were positive for P. aeruginosa, 8% for A. baumannii and 7% for S. aureus. Of these, 29% of P. aeruginosa and 28% of A. baumannii culture isolates were carbapenem resistant, and 54% of S. aureus isolates were identified as MRSA. Drain biofilms were the most common reservoir for AMR A. baumannii, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Carbapenem resistance genes including blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48, blaKPC-2 and blaVIM were found in biofilm samples otherwise negative for P. aeruginosa, indicating plumbing biofilms may act as eDNA reservoirs. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical role of plumbing biofilms as hotspots for diverse AMR pathogens, amplifying risks for vulnerable populations, particularly in home healthcare settings. This study highlights an urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate AMR risks in drinking water plumbing systems.
AB - Background: Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens in drinking water plumbing systems represent a significant yet underestimated public health threat. Methods: This is the first study to use qPCR and culture-based methods to investigate the prevalence of key AMR threats, meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, in Australian hospital and residential drinking water and biofilm samples. Findings: Seventy-three per cent of residential water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for at least one target pathogen compared with 38% of hospital samples, and 45% of residential plumbing fixtures harboured at least two target pathogens. Thirty-seven per cent of water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for P. aeruginosa, 22.3% for A. baumannii and 21.7% for S. aureus. Using culture, 10% of samples were positive for P. aeruginosa, 8% for A. baumannii and 7% for S. aureus. Of these, 29% of P. aeruginosa and 28% of A. baumannii culture isolates were carbapenem resistant, and 54% of S. aureus isolates were identified as MRSA. Drain biofilms were the most common reservoir for AMR A. baumannii, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Carbapenem resistance genes including blaNDM-1, blaOXA-48, blaKPC-2 and blaVIM were found in biofilm samples otherwise negative for P. aeruginosa, indicating plumbing biofilms may act as eDNA reservoirs. Conclusions: These findings underscore the critical role of plumbing biofilms as hotspots for diverse AMR pathogens, amplifying risks for vulnerable populations, particularly in home healthcare settings. This study highlights an urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate AMR risks in drinking water plumbing systems.
KW - Antimicrobial resistance
KW - Biofilms
KW - Handwashing basins
KW - Healthcare at home
KW - Healthcare-associated infections
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105001303783&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.02.018
DO - 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.02.018
M3 - Article
C2 - 40064446
AN - SCOPUS:105001303783
SN - 0195-6701
VL - 159
SP - 62
EP - 70
JO - Journal of Hospital Infection
JF - Journal of Hospital Infection
ER -
