Abstract
Symptomatic disease by nontuberculous mycobacteria has been linked to potable water from institutional and domestic potable water systems. Potable water samples were collected from homes and institutions of patients with AIDS. Colonization of potable water with nontuberculous mycobacteria was demonstrated in 230 (15%) of 1489 samples collected from domestic and institutional water systems of patients with HIV infection in the United States and Finland. Mycobacterium avium was the most common species and colonization was favored at temperatures of 40–50°C in recirculating hot water systems. Such systems are a plausible source of human infection and disease.
Highlights
Nontuberculous mycobacteria, including organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), may cause asymptomatic infections identified by positive skin test reactions and symptomatic disease including lymphadenitis, pulmonary infection, and disseminated disease identified by positive bacterial cultures [1]
Mycobacterium avium MAC not M. avium Other mycobacteria addition, up to 4 water samples were obtained from other sites where patients had regular contact with water
Skin test studies indicate that asymptomatic infection with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) such as M. avium is common in healthy persons throughout the world [9]
Summary
Nontuberculous mycobacteria, including organisms of the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), may cause asymptomatic infections identified by positive skin test reactions and symptomatic disease including lymphadenitis, pulmonary infection, and disseminated disease identified by positive bacterial cultures [1]. MAC and other nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are environmental organisms that can be isolated from diverse soil and water sources [2]. Symptomatic disease has been linked to exposure to potable water including both institutional and domestic potable water systems [3, 4]. Asymptomatic infection has been linked to occupational soil exposure [5]
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