Living with and Other Waterborne Pathogens
Overview
Authors
Affiliations
spp. and other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs), including , , , and , are normal inhabitants of natural waters, drinking water distribution systems and premise plumbing. Thus, humans are regularly exposed to these pathogens. Unfortunately, spp. and the other OPPPs share a number of features that allow them to grow and persist in premise plumbing. They form biofilms and are also relatively disinfectant-resistant, able to grow at low organic matter concentrations, and able to grow under stagnant conditions. Infections have been traced to exposure to premise plumbing or aerosols generated in showers. A number of measures can lead to reduction in OPPP numbers in premise plumbing, including elevation of water heater temperatures.
Zeng J, Nakanishi T, Hara A, Itoh S J Water Health. 2025; 23(1):43-57.
PMID: 39882853 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.399.
Dynamics of drinking water biofilm formation associated with Legionella spp. colonization.
Margot C, Rhoads W, Gabrielli M, Olive M, Hammes F NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes. 2024; 10(1):101.
PMID: 39368992 PMC: 11455961. DOI: 10.1038/s41522-024-00573-x.
Conjugal plasmid transfer in the plant rhizosphere in the One Health context.
Riva F, Dechesne A, Eckert E, Riva V, Borin S, Mapelli F Front Microbiol. 2024; 15:1457854.
PMID: 39268528 PMC: 11390587. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1457854.
A review of transmission risk in built environments: sources, regulations, sampling, and detection.
Yao X, Shen F, Hao J, Huang L, Keng B Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1415157.
PMID: 39131570 PMC: 11309999. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1415157.
Farina C, Cacciabue E, Averara F, Ferri N, Vailati F, Del Castillo G Microorganisms. 2023; 11(7).
PMID: 37512966 PMC: 10384652. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071794.