TY - JOUR
T1 - Infection by Clonally Related Mycobacterium abscessus Isolates
T2 - The Role of Drinking Water
AU - Thomson, Rachel M.
AU - Wheeler, Nicole
AU - Stockwell, Rebecca E.
AU - Bryant, Josephine
AU - Taylor, Steven L.
AU - Leong, Lex E.X.
AU - Le, Trieu
AU - Rogers, Geraint B.
AU - Carter, Robyn
AU - Sherrard, Laura J.
AU - Powell, Harry
AU - Simpson, Graham
AU - Patterson-Fahy, Kirby
AU - Wainwright, Claire E.
AU - Floto, R. Andres
AU - Parkhill, Julian
AU - Bell, Scott C.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2025 by the American Thoracic Society.
PY - 2025/5
Y1 - 2025/5
N2 - Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia.Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.
AB - Rationale: Mycobacterium abscessus (MABS) group bacteria cause lethal infections in people with chronic lung diseases. Transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood; the detection of dominant circulating clones (DCCs) has suggested the potential for person-to-person transmission. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the role of drinking water in the transmission of MABS. Methods: A total of 289 isolates were cultured from respiratory samples (n = 231) and drinking water sources (n = 58) across Queensland, Australia.Measurements and Main Results: Whole-genome sequences were analyzed to identify DCCs and determine relatedness. Half of the isolates (n = 144; 49.8%) clustered with previously described DCCs, of which 30 formed a clade within DCC5. Pan-genomic analysis of the water-associated DCC5 clade revealed an enrichment of genes associated with copper resistance. Four instances of plausible epidemiological links were identified between genomically related clinical and water isolates. Conclusions: We provide evidence that drinking water is a reservoir for MABS and may be a vector in the chain of MABS infection.
KW - bronchiectasis
KW - cystic fibrosis
KW - drinking water
KW - environmental transmission
KW - Mycobacterium abscessus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105004296219&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1102494
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/2008625
U2 - 10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC
DO - 10.1164/rccm.202409-1824OC
M3 - Article
C2 - 40072241
AN - SCOPUS:105004296219
SN - 1073-449X
VL - 211
SP - 842
EP - 853
JO - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
JF - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
IS - 5
ER -
