Mycobacteria other than tuberculosis in eastern Kansas water supplies.

Abstract

Rivers, lakes, ponds, marshes, wells, taps, drinking fountains, distilled and bottled waters in eastern Kansas were examined for the presence of Mycobacteria. Several experiments were conducted. Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and formaldehyde (HCHO) were used as decontaminating agents. Samples were passed through millipore filters, the filters were then rinsed and placed on Middlebrook 7HlO or Lowenstein-Jensen agar. Plates were incubated at 25 C, 37 C or at ambient temperature either in air or in 5 % CO2 depending on the experiment. When CPC was used as the decontaminating agent only M. chelonei and M. fortuitum were isolated. M. chelonei was recovered from 1 of 3 distilled water samples, 2 of 22 tap samples, 1 of 6 pond samples, 1 of 10 well samples, 1 of 2 river samples, and 2 of 3 bottled water samples. M. fortuitum was recovered from 2 of 10 well samples and 1 of 10 lake samples. No mycobacteria was recovered from any of 5 marsh samples. When HCHO was used as the decontaminating agent M. gordonae, M. fortuitum, M. chelonei, M. szulgai, M. avium complex, M. scrofulaceum, and an unidentified Group III and 3 unidentified Group IV organisms were isolated. M. gordonae was isolated from 4 of 24 tap and 5 of 23 drinking fountain samples. M. fortuitum was isolated from 3 of 24 tap, 1 of 10 well, 1 of 6 bottled and 1 of 23 drinking fountain samples. M. chelonei was isolated from 2 of 24 tap, 2 of 6 bottled and 1 of 2 distilled water samples. M. szulgai was isolated from 3 of 24 tap and 2 of 23 drinking fountain samples. M. avium complex was isolated from 1 of 24 tap and 1 of 23 drinking fountain samples. M. scrofulaceum was isolated from 1 of 24 tap sample6. Three unidentified Group IV organisms were isolated from 3 of 24 tap samples. One unidentified Group III organism was isolated from 1 of 24 tap samples. One home aquarium and one outdoor decorative fountain failed to yield any acid-fast organisms. Samples containing excessive foreign material were pelleted resuspended in Middlebrook 7H9. The use of acetic acid as a decontaminating agent for these samples was investigated. A review of the literature is also given.