A recent study by researchers from Flinders University revealed a growing threat of the presence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens in Australian drinking water plumbing systems.
The study identified significant transmission risks in both hospital and residential environments.
Published in the Journal of Hospital Infection, the study assessed the prevalence of key AMR threats – methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), plus carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii – in the water and biofilm samples that were taken from across Australia.
“The presence of these antimicrobial resistant bacteria in residential and hospital plumbing systems highlights a pressing public health concern that requires immediate attention,” Flinders University’s professor Harriet Whiley urges.
The scope of the problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that by 2050, AMR infections could cause 10 million deaths a year, and would therefore surpass cancer as the leading cause of death worldwide.
Efforts to combat AMR have relied primarily on surveillance around clinical cases, according to the Flinders team. Environmental reservoirs – such as drinking water plumbing systems – remain poorly understood.
Its study found that 73 percent of residential water and biofilm samples tested positive for at least one AMR pathogen, compared to 38 percent of hospital samples.
Forty-five percent of residential drinking water plumbing fixtures had at least two of the targeted AMR pathogens.
Drain biofilms were identified as a major reservoir for AMR bacteria, and were found even after disinfection efforts were undertaken in those spaces.
Carbapenem resistance genes were found in biofilm samples that tested negative for P. aeruginosa, suggesting that biofilms may act as long-term reservoirs for AMR genes, allowing resistance to spread even after the original bacteria have died.
MRSA, typically associated with dry, high-touch surfaces such as bed rails and doorknobs, was detected in both water and biofilm samples. It led researchers to conclude that AMR pathogens not traditionally considered waterborne may thrive in plumbing systems.
“Our research underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate the risks posed by AMR pathogens in drinking water systems, especially in home healthcare settings,” lead researcher Dr Claire Hayward says.
This study calls for improved strategies to manage AMR risks in water infrastructure, particularly in environments housing vulnerable populations, such as hospitals and aged care facilities.
It added that strengthening water system hygiene, routine monitoring, and new biofilm control methods could be crucial in addressing this growing threat.
Photographs: Supplied
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