Mycobacterium avium in a shower linked to pulmonary disease

J Water Health. 2008 Jun;6(2):209-13. doi: 10.2166/wh.2008.032.

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium was isolated from hot and cold water samples and from sediment (biofilm) collected from the showerhead in the home of a woman with M. avium pulmonary disease lacking known M. avium risk factors. IS1245/IS1311 DNA fingerprinting demonstrated that M. avium isolates from the hot and cold water and showerhead sediment demonstrated a clonal relationship with the patient's M. avium isolate. The data provide evidence that showers may serve as sources of infection by waterborne M. avium.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biofilms
  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / analysis
  • Female
  • Fresh Water / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / microbiology*
  • Mycobacterium avium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium avium / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / microbiology
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Water Supply / analysis*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial