Identification of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria in Drinking Water in Cali, Colombia

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous microorganisms naturally resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants that can colonize drinking water supply systems. Information regarding the spread of NTM in specifically South America and Colombia is limited. We aimed to identify and characterize N...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 18; no. 16; p. 8451
Main Authors: Dávalos, Andrés F., Garcia, Pamela K., Montoya-Pachongo, Carolina, Rengifo, Andrea, Guerrero, Daniela, Díaz-Ordoñez, Lorena, Díaz, Gustavo, Ferro, Beatriz E.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 10.08.2021
MDPI
Subjects:
Colombia
Disease
Disinfection & disinfectants
Drinking Water
Humans
Infections
Mycobacteriaceae
Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous - epidemiology
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria - genetics
RNA polymerase
Water supply
Colombia
United States > US
nontuberculous mycobacteria
drinking water
antibiotic resistance
public health
ISSN:1660-4601, 1661-7827, 1660-4601
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are ubiquitous microorganisms naturally resistant to antibiotics and disinfectants that can colonize drinking water supply systems. Information regarding the spread of NTM in specifically South America and Colombia is limited. We aimed to identify and characterize NTM present in tap water samples from Cali, Colombia. Drinking water samples and faucet biofilm swabs were collected in 18 places, including the city’s three main water treatment plants (WTPs). Filter-trapped material and eluates (0.45 μm) from swab washes were plated in 7H11 agar plates. Suspected colonies were evaluated microscopically, and NTM species were identified based on the rpoB gene. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was also performed. Fifty percent (9/18) of sampling points were positive for NTM (including two WTPs), from which 16 different isolates were identified: Mycobacterium mucogenicum (8/16), M. phocaicum (3/16), M. chelonae (2/16), M. mageritense (2/16), and M. fortuitum (1/16), all rapidly growing mycobacteria. A susceptibility profile was obtained from 68.75% (11/16) of the isolates. M. chelonae was the most resistant species. All NTM isolated are potentially responsible for human diseases; our findings might provide a baseline for exploring NTM transmission dynamics and clinical characterization, as well as potential associations between NTM species found in drinking water and isolates from patients.
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ISSN:1660-4601
1661-7827
1660-4601
DOI:10.3390/ijerph18168451