title: An unusual outbreak of nontuberculous mycobacteria in hospital respiratory wards: Association with nontuberculous mycobacterial colonization of hospital water supply network.
abstract: The incidence and prevalence of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is increasing worldwide arousing concerns that NTM infection may become a serious health challenge. We recently observed a significant increase of NTM-positive sputa samples from patients referred to respiratory disease wards of a large tertiary hospital in Rome. A survey to identify possible NTM contamination revealed a massive presence of NTM in the hospital water supply network. After decontamination procedures, NTM presence dropped both in water pipelines and sputa samples. We believe that this observation should encourage water network surveys for NTM contamination and prompt decontamination procedures should be considered to reduce this potential source of infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Antonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rogliani
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy; Department of Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Nephrologic, Anesthesiologic, and Geriatric Sciences, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Gregorino
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paone
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Altieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario Giuseppe
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Alma
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cazzola
authors.affiliation: Department of Systems Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: ermannopux@libero.it.
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Puxeddu
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000382:microbiology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D014881:Water Supply
keywords: Nontuberculous mycobacteria; Pulmonary infection; Source contamination