Opportunistic pathogens Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Legionella spp. colonise model shower

Harriet Whiley; Steven Giglio; Richard Bentham

doi:10.3390/pathogens4030590

Opportunistic pathogens Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Legionella spp. colonise model shower

Harriet Whiley, Steven Giglio, Richard Bentham

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	590-598
Number of pages	9
Journal	Pathogens
Volume	4
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens4030590
Publication status	Published - 24 Jul 2015

Keywords

Biofilm
Legionella pneumophila
Legionella spp.
Model
Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC)
Non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM)
Potable water
Showers

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title = "Opportunistic pathogens Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Legionella spp. colonise model shower",

abstract = "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.",

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AU - Giglio, Steven

AU - Bentham, Richard

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N2 - 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.

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Opportunistic pathogens Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Legionella spp. colonise model shower

Abstract

Keywords

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