Tracing Melioidosis to Water Treatment Plant in Australia
Author Information
Author(s): Timothy J.J. Inglis, Stuart C. Garrow, Mandy Henderson, Adele Clair, Judy Sampson, Lyn O'Reilly, Bob Cameron
Primary Institution: Western Australian Centre for Pathology and Medical Research
Hypothesis
Can the source of Burkholderia pseudomallei contamination in a community's water supply be identified?
Conclusion
The investigation traced the contamination of Burkholderia pseudomallei in the water supply to the water treatment plant, specifically the aerator.
Supporting Evidence
- Burkholderia pseudomallei was isolated from all six patients diagnosed during the outbreak.
- Environmental sampling identified the potable water supply as a possible source of B. pseudomallei.
- All isolates from patients were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Takeaway
Researchers found that a type of bacteria that can cause serious illness was in the drinking water of a small community, likely coming from a water treatment machine.
Methodology
Environmental samples were collected from the water supply and analyzed for the presence of Burkholderia pseudomallei using culture and molecular methods.
Limitations
The study could not definitively prove that the aerator was the primary source of contamination without contemporaneous bacteriologic evidence.
Participant Demographics
The community involved had a population of approximately 300, with patients having recognized risk factors for melioidosis.
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