The public drinking water supply is not sterile; it contains a rich, diverse, dynamic microbial community. Environmental source, biofilm associated pathogens, such as Legionella, Pseudomonas and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are found throughout the environment and are generally present in the public water supply, typically at very low concentrations. In the absence of control, building water systems can act as “incubators” in which even very small numbers of pathogens in the public water supply can grow to large numbers, then be released in microscopic droplets (e.g., through showers, whirlpool spas, cooling towers). When susceptible persons are exposed, they can become infected.
According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), implementation of water management plans can prevent most disease outbreaks associated with building water systems. Water sampling, testing and measurement can play an important part in developing, implementing and validating effective water management plans.
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The waterborne disease burden from microbial pathogens in building water systems is significant and increasing, both in the United States and worldwide. Attention has focused primarily on Legionella, but disease from other biofilm-associated environmental-source pathogens, such as Pseudomonas and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM), also is considerable. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published estimates of the burden and direct healthcare costs of infectious waterborne disease in the United States. Most hospitalizations and deaths were caused by Legionella, Pseudomonas and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) costing at least $2.39 billion annually.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Estimates: Direct Annual Healthcare Costs (US)
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