Waterborne Nosocomial Infections.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare-associated infections
• Microbiology
• Infectious disease epidemiology

Background:

• Waterborne pathogens pose a significant threat in healthcare facilities, leading to outbreaks despite existing guidelines.
• Common culprits include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Legionella species, nontuberculous mycobacteria, and opportunistic fungi like Fusarium.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent reports on infections caused by waterborne pathogens in healthcare settings.
• To highlight the link between hospital water systems and patient infections, emphasizing transmission routes and control measures.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent literature and case reports on waterborne pathogen infections in hospitals.
• Utilized molecular subtyping to confirm the link between environmental isolates and patient infections.

Main Results:

• Identical strains of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Fusarium were found in both hospital water systems and infected patients.
• Transmission pathways include direct contact, ingestion, aspiration, and aerosolization of contaminated water, as well as healthcare worker contamination.

Conclusions:

• Hospital water systems are a reservoir for pathogens causing nosocomial infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
• Effective interventions include antimicrobial hand hygiene, water system disinfection, and restricting tap water use for high-risk patients.