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SECURE WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS are vital for healthy water. In the US between 1920-1999, 11-18% of waterborne disease outbreaks were due to contamination of the distribution system, and between 1991-1996 were responsible for 22% of outbreaks. Similar data exists for other countries. http://lnkd.in/dbbE87Y View in LinkedIn

BIOFILM COMMUNITIES. "Bacteria living in a biofilm usually have significantly different properties from free-floating bacteria ... One benefit ... is increased resistance to detergents and antibiotics ... can be increased a thousandfold. Lateral gene transfer is greatly facilitated in biofilms and leads to a more stable biofilm structure." http://lnkd.in/d8fsHNK View in LinkedIn

BIOFILMS ARE THE MAIN CAUSE OF INFECTIONS. "60-80 percent of microbial infections in the body are caused by bacteria growing as a biofilm – as opposed to planktonic (free-floating) bacteria." They occur as dental plaque, infections on catheters and implants, and more. http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/microbiota/biofilm View in LinkedIn

"BIOFILMS are densely packed communities of microbial cells that grow on living or inert surfaces and surround themselves with secreted polymers ... The structural and physiological complexity of biofilms has led to the idea that they are coordinated and cooperative groups, analogous to multicellular organisms." http://mpkb.org/home/pathogenesis/microbiota/biofilm View in LinkedIn

"BIOFILMS are ubiquitous in drinking water systems, either in the form of thin and patchy colonies or as surface-covering multiple layers. The extent of biofilm growth and of the occurrence of hygienically relevant organisms is still unknown and to be investigated ... such organisms do not multiply in large numbers in drinking water biofilms." http://www.iwaponline.com/ws/00201/ws002010271.htm View in LinkedIn

BIOFILMS are complex cooperative societies of microorganisms that protect themselves in an external matrix, and exchange genes to enhance survival. They are very hard to eradicate, and are widespread in water distribution systems, among many other habitats. In this community, they have very different characteristics. http://lnkd.in/dhdyE4d View in LinkedIn

MOST BACTERIA IN WATER ARE HARMLESS, but are the basis for the food-chain for fungi and protozoa which may be less benign. Fungi and Protozoa can present health threats to humans. http://lnkd.in/dbbE87Y View in LinkedIn

UNEXPECTED HABITAT. "Nosocomial aspergillosis, a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients, is thought to be caused primarily by ?.. organisms in the air. Water from tanks yielded higher counts of colony-forming units than did municipal water. An isolate ... recovered from a patient ... was identical to an isolate ... in the patient's room." http://lnkd.in/d6FTVi2 View in LinkedIn

ASPERGILLOSIS. "It is estimated that 10,190 aspergillosis-related hospitalizations occurred in the United States in 1996." http://lnkd.in/d6FTVi2 View in LinkedIn

PATHOGENS PROTECTED BY BIOFILMS. "The complex microbial ecology of premise plumbing systems can serve as a reservoir for opportunistic pathogens ... Biofilms and amoeba within the water system can protect opportunistic pathogens from disinfection, and may even allow their regrowth and increase in pathogenicity." http://lnkd.in/dAn_3i8 View in LinkedIn