Showerhead bacteria and lung infections: Researchers find correlation

Bacteria thrive in showerheads and throughout household water distribution systems. While most of these bacteria are innocuous, some are potential pathogens, including members of the genus Mycobacterium that can cause NTM lung infection, a threat to public health. The researchers surveyed showerheads in households across the United States and Europe and found that showerheads "often harbor abundant mycobacterial communities that vary in composition depending on geographic location, water chemistry, and water source," according to the study. Households that received water treated with chlorine disinfectants had particularly high abundances of certain mycobacteria.

Their results highlight the public health relevance of mycobacteria in showerhead biofilms and advance our understanding of NTM transmission dynamics. This study demonstrates that mycobacterial distributions in showerhead biofilms are often predictable from household location and water chemistry. The results will help develop strategies to reduce exposures to these emerging pathogens.