Environmental mycobacteria (EM) constitute a health risk, particularly for immunocompromised people. Workers in heavy industry and in collieries represent an at-risk group of people as their immunity is often weakened by long-term employment in dusty environments, frequent smoking and an increased occurrence of pulmonary diseases. This study was concerned with the presence of EM in non-drinking water used for the hygiene of employees in six large industrial companies and collieries. Over a period of ten years, 1096 samples of surface water treated for hygiene purposes (treated surface water) and treated surface water diluted with mining water were examined. EM were detected in 63.4 and 41.5% samples of treated surface water and treated surface water diluted with mining water, respectively. Mycobacterium gordonae, M. avium-intracellulare and M. kansasii were the most frequently detected species. Adoption of suitable precautions should be enforced to reduce the incidence of mycobacteria in shower water and to decrease the infectious pressure on employees belonging to an at-risk group of people.

• MeSH
• Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous epidemiology   MeSH
• Water Purification MeSH
• Mining * MeSH
• Metallurgy * MeSH
• Occupational Health MeSH
• Hygiene * MeSH
• Immunocompromised Host MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Water Microbiology * MeSH
• Mycobacterium isolation & purification   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Water Supply standards   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

The presence of environmental mycobacteria was studied in drinking water supply systems in Olomouc Country, Czech Republic, in order to detect the possible spread of M. kansasii from the neighbouring region in Ostrava County. Drinking water samples from water supply systems of 16 identical localities were investigated. The samples of running water, and tap swabs or tap scrapings were collected twice a year, in the spring and in the autumn. The most common cultivated and identified species were M. gordonae (20.4%), M. flavescens (13.8%), rapidly growing mycobacteria (5.0%) and then by occasional identification of M. fortuitum, M. terrae, M. scrofulaceum. M. kansasii was not detected. The prevalence rates showed no time trend over the period 1984-1989. We conclude that there is no evidence at present that endemic M. kansasii, isolated repeatedly from the environment in the Ostrava neighbouring region, has spread to Olomouc County.

• MeSH
• Analysis of Variance MeSH
• Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous epidemiology   microbiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Linear Models MeSH
• Water Microbiology * MeSH
• Nontuberculous Mycobacteria isolation & purification   MeSH
• Prevalence MeSH
• Water Supply * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Geographicals
• Czech Republic epidemiology   MeSH