Drinking water plumbing systems are a hot spot for antimicrobial-resistant pathogens

IF 3.9 3区医学 Q1 INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Journal of Hospital Infection Pub Date : 2025-03-08 DOI:10.1016/j.jhin.2025.02.018

C. Hayward , K.E. Ross , M.H. Brown , R. Bentham , J. Hinds , H. Whiley

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens in drinking water plumbing systems represent a significant yet underestimated public health threat.

Methods

This is the first study to use qPCR and culture-based methods to investigate the prevalence of key AMR threats, meticillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and carbapenem resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, in Australian hospital and residential drinking water and biofilm samples.

Findings

Seventy-three per cent of residential water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for at least one target pathogen compared with 38% of hospital samples, and 45% of residential plumbing fixtures harboured at least two target pathogens. Thirty-seven per cent of water and biofilm samples were qPCR positive for P. aeruginosa, 22.3% for A. baumannii and 21.7% for S. aureus. Using culture, 10% of samples were positive for P. aeruginosa, 8% for A. baumannii and 7% for S. aureus. Of these, 29% of P. aeruginosa and 28% of A. baumannii culture isolates were carbapenem resistant, and 54% of S. aureus isolates were identified as MRSA. Drain biofilms were the most common reservoir for AMR A. baumannii, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Carbapenem resistance genes including bla_NDM-1, bla_OXA-48, bla_KPC-2 and bla_VIM were found in biofilm samples otherwise negative for P. aeruginosa, indicating plumbing biofilms may act as eDNA reservoirs.

Conclusions

These findings underscore the critical role of plumbing biofilms as hotspots for diverse AMR pathogens, amplifying risks for vulnerable populations, particularly in home healthcare settings. This study highlights an urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate AMR risks in drinking water plumbing systems.

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来源期刊

Journal of Hospital Infection 医学-传染病学

CiteScore

12.70

自引率

5.80%

发文量

271

审稿时长

19 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Hospital Infection is the editorially independent scientific publication of the Healthcare Infection Society. The aim of the Journal is to publish high quality research and information relating to infection prevention and control that is relevant to an international audience. The Journal welcomes submissions that relate to all aspects of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This includes submissions that: provide new insight into the epidemiology, surveillance, or prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings; provide new insight into cleaning, disinfection and decontamination; provide new insight into the design of healthcare premises; describe novel aspects of outbreaks of infection; throw light on techniques for effective antimicrobial stewardship; describe novel techniques (laboratory-based or point of care) for the detection of infection or antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare setting, particularly if these can be used to facilitate infection prevention and control; improve understanding of the motivations of safe healthcare behaviour, or describe techniques for achieving behavioural and cultural change; improve understanding of the use of IT systems in infection surveillance and prevention and control.