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Legionella and Mycobacterium Occurrence/Persistence in Homes and Office Buildings
Citation:
Donohue, M. Legionella and Mycobacterium Occurrence/Persistence in Homes and Office Buildings. 2018 UNC Water Microbiology Conference, Durham, NC, May 22 - 24, 2018.
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose and goal of this side-event is to make scientists in the field aware of some of the current research being conducted with respect to the environmental pathogens, Legionella and Mycobacterium.
Description:
Legionella and non-tuberculous Mycobacterium species are two of the more important environmental pathogens that cause human health effects. They contribute to the highest economic burden and one of the heaviest disease burdens of all of the waterborne pathogens that pose a risk to humans. They are ubiquitous in water environments and can find their way into the infrastructures that deliver portable water into public and private holdings. The potential for mycobacteria and legionellae to be found in premise plumbing and water distribution systems means that exposure assessment may be one of the more important aspects of risk assessment. This session will address various elements of source identification, occurrence and treatment of these environmental pathogens. Mycobacterium avium from patients and premise plumbing systems will be discussed with respect to their elimination from the premise plumbing. The preference and persistence of Legionella spp. in various amoebae in drinking water systems will be examined to determine the effect of this phenomenon on the health risk to humans. A molecular investigation of the occurrence of Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium avium within residences and office buildings across thirty-nine states in the United States will be discussed as one important aspect of the widespread regional potential for exposure to these two microbes. These broad findings will be followed by a presentation of an investigation of the impacts and meaning of maintaining detectable disinfection residuals in drinking water distribution systems for legionellae and non-tuberculous mycobacteria in small utilities.
URLs/Downloads:
http://www.cvent.com/events/water-microbiology-2018/event-summary-27ff6a4d4fd24f8bb0e3052a842e40d5.aspx