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A lung disease has been associated with the most common group of germs that populate the showerhead of an average household. Biofilms on metal showerheads were more likely to contain mycobacteria than those in plastic units, according to the authors of a study published in Mbio.
The inhalation of aerosols of a specific type of mycobacteria can cause nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTMs). Most people do not get sick when they inhale mycobacteria. However, if the organisms attack the lungs, this can trigger inflammation. If left untreated, a chronic lung infection can occur, resulting in coughing, dyspnea, weight loss, and fatigue. Treatment may involve taking antibiotics for at least 12 months.
In the United States, more than 80,000 people suffer from NCDs, most of them being elderly, according to the American Lung Association.
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The authors warned that NCD infections were "increasingly recognized as a threat to public health" as they could be difficult to treat and rates were on the rise in the United States and in the United States. other developed countries.
The authors found the "hot spots" of mycobacteria where NCDs were the most common. Previous research has shown that the disease is more prevalent in Hawaii, southern California, Florida and New York.
Dr. Noah Fierer, author of the study and fellow of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder, said, "A fascinating microbial world thrives in your showerhead. and you can be exposed every time you shower.
"Most of these microbes are harmless, but some are not, this type of research helps us understand how our own actions – from the type of water treatment system we use to the materials in our plumbing – can change the composition of these microbial communities, "he said.
To conduct this study, scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and CIRES analyzed samples taken from 656 household showers in the United States and 13 European countries.
The team sequenced the DNA of the biofilm and identified what forms of bacteria lived in the shower heads and how many.
Mycobacteria were most commonly found in the United States. This is probably because chlorine-based disinfectants – to which mycobacteria are more resistant than other bacteria – are more widely used than in Europe, say the authors. Bathrooms that received water from the municipal system rather than a well were more prone to germs.
Plastic heads contain chemicals that allow more bacteria to grow than metal heads, which means that mycobacteria may not be able to dominate the ecosystem, the authors said . This could explain why more mycobacteria are found on metal showerheads, the authors said.
Matt Gebert, lead author of the study and researcher at CIRES, said in a statement: "It is important to understand the pathways of exposure to mycobacteria, especially within the household. We can learn a lot by studying the biofilm that accumulates in your showerhead and the associated water chemistry. "
The research was the latest to study the microscopic germs that populate the surfaces around us. A recent study published in the journal BMC Infectious Diseases revealed that the plastic bins used during security checks were the dirtiest places of an airport.
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