Ecological Analyses of Mycobacteria in Showerhead Biofilms and Their Relevance to Human Health
Abstract
Bacteria thrive in showerheads and throughout household water distribution systems. While most of these bacteria are innocuous, some are potential pathogens, including members of the genus Mycobacterium that can cause nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infection, an increasing threat to public health. We found that showerheads in households across the United States and Europe often harbor abundant mycobacterial communities that vary in composition depending on geographic location, water chemistry, and water source, with households receiving water treated with chlorine disinfectants having particularly high abundances of certain mycobacteria. The regions in the United States where NTM lung infections are most common were the same regions where pathogenic mycobacteria were most prevalent in showerheads, highlighting the important role of showerheads in the transmission of NTM infections.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Nov 07, 2018
- Source ID
- 10.1128/mbio.01614-18
Entities
People
- Angela M. Oliverio
- Edward D. Chan
- Jennifer Adjemian
- Jennifer R. Honda
- Lauren M. Nichols
- Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
- Matthew J. Gebert
- Noah Fierer
- Robert R. Dunn
- Tara M. Webster
Organizations
- King Juan Carlos University
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
- National Jewish Health
- North Carolina State University
- United States Department of Defense
- United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps
- University of Colorado
- University of Colorado Denver
- University of Copenhagen