[Do water mycobacteria present any infectious risk in immunocompromised patients?]

Atypical Mycobacteria were demonstrated in tap water. Mycobacteria are generally more resistant to chemical disinfection than other bacteria and grow and survive in water. In an effort to clarify the role of water in the transmission of Mycobacteria, water from various sites in the hospital was analysed. Atypical Mycobacteria were isolated from 58 of 60 samples of cold water distributor. Species more frequent are M.Kansasii, M.Gordonae, M.Fortuitum. 3 of 10 samples of hot water were positives M.Xenopi was isolated once. 1 of 10 samples of mineral waters was contaminated with M.Gordonae. The atypical Mycobacteria in normal patient are relatively less virulent, in a host with an impaired cellular immunity they caused active diseases. The number of published cases is low. The incidence in transplant patients ranges from 0.5 to 1%. Infections with atypical Mycobacteria differ in several clinical features. Person to person does not occur. Water is a source of infection induce direct inoculation inhalation and ingestion.