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Nontuberculous mycobacteria in the environment.
1Department of Biology, Fralin Biotechnology Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0346, USA. jofiii@vt.edu
Clinics in Chest Medicine
|October 10, 2002
Summary
Environmental opportunistic mycobacteria infections are rising due to increased detection, aging populations, and widespread presence in water systems. Disinfection processes can inadvertently select for these resistant microbes, leading to increased incidence and potential health risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Public health
- Infectious diseases
Background:
- Environmental opportunistic mycobacteria are increasingly recognized as human pathogens.
- These ubiquitous microbes are found in water, soil, and aerosols, posing daily exposure risks.
- An aging population and increased immunosuppression contribute to a higher susceptibility to infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the rising incidence of opportunistic mycobacterial infections.
- To explain the environmental factors and human activities contributing to increased infections.
- To discuss the role of disinfection in selecting for resistant mycobacteria.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of opportunistic mycobacterial infections.
- Analysis of environmental factors, including water distribution systems and metalworking fluids.
- Examination of microbial resistance to disinfection agents.
Main Results:
- Opportunistic mycobacterial infections are projected to increase due to enhanced detection and broader host susceptibility.
- Mycobacteria are prevalent in diverse environmental niches, including drinking water and industrial fluids.
- Disinfection processes, particularly in water systems and metalworking fluids, can select for disinfectant-resistant mycobacteria, such as Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare.
Conclusions:
- Increased awareness and improved detection methods contribute to the rising incidence of mycobacterial infections.
- Environmental factors, including widespread presence and human activities, facilitate exposure and infection.
- Disinfectant resistance in mycobacteria plays a critical role in their persistence and proliferation in treated water systems and other environments, potentially leading to outbreaks of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.