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Fungi, Water Supply and Biofilms

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Fungal Biofilms and related infections

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AMIDPH,volume 931))

Abstract

Even though it has been studied for many years, water-related infectious risk still exists in both care and community environments due to the possible presence of numerous microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protists. People can be exposed directly to these microorganisms either through aerosols and water, after ingestion, inhalation, skin contact and entry through mucosal membranes, or indirectly usually due to pre-treatment of some medical devices. Species belonging to genera such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Pseudallesheria, Fusarium, Cuninghamella, Mucor and in some particular cases Candida have been isolated in water from health facilities and their presence is particularly related to the unavoidable formation of a polymicrobial biofilm in waterlines. Fungi isolation methods are based on water filtration combined with conventional microbiology cultures and/or molecular approaches; unfortunately, these are still poorly standardized. Moreover, due to inappropriate culture media and inadequate sampling volumes, the current standardized methods used for bacterial research are not suitable for fungal search. In order to prevent water-related fungal risk, health facilities have implemented measures such as ultraviolet radiation to treat the input network, continuous chemical treatment, chemical or thermal shock treatments, or microfiltration at points of use. This article aims to provide an overview of fungal colonization of water (especially in hospitals), involvement of biofilms that develop in waterlines and application of preventive strategies.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Mr Arsham Jeffrey for revising the English text.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicale, CHU de Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, UBM, BP577, Poitiers, 86021, France

    Catherine Kauffmann–Lacroix, Damien Costa & Christine Imbert

  2. Laboratoire Ecologie Biologie des Interactions (EBI), Université de Poitiers, UMR CNRS 7267, équipe Microbiologie de l’Eau, UFR Médecine-Pharmacie, Bat D1, 6 rue de la Milétrie, TSA 51115, Poitiers, 86073, France

    Damien Costa & Christine Imbert

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  1. Catherine Kauffmann–Lacroix
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  2. Damien Costa
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Correspondence to Catherine Kauffmann–Lacroix .

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  1. Laboratory Ecology & Biology of Interactions UMR CNRS 7267, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France

    Christine Imbert

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Kauffmann–Lacroix, C., Costa, D., Imbert, C. (2016). Fungi, Water Supply and Biofilms. In: Imbert, C. (eds) Fungal Biofilms and related infections. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 931. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2016_8

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