Posted on 12/21/2011 9:50:44 AM PST by decimon
A study examining the prevalence of the fungus Fusarium in bathroom sink drains suggests that plumbing systems may be a common source of human infections.
In the first extensive survey of its kind, researchers in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences sampled nearly 500 sink drains from 131 buildings -- businesses, homes, university dormitories and public facilities -- in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and California.
They analyzed fungal DNA to compare the spectrum of Fusarium species and sequence types found in drains with those recovered from human infections.
The study identified at least one Fusarium isolate in 66 percent of the drains and in 82 percent of the buildings. About 70 percent of those isolates came from the six sequence types of Fusarium most frequently associated with human infections.
"With about two-thirds of sinks found to harbor Fusarium, it's clear that those buildings' inhabitants are exposed to these fungi on a regular basis," said lead investigator Dylan Short, who recently completed his doctorate in plant pathology. "This strongly supports the hypothesis that plumbing-surface biofilms serve as reservoirs for human pathogenic fusaria."
The researcherrs published their results in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology.
Fusarium may be best known for causing a variety of diseases in agricultural crops. In Pennsylvania, Fusarium diseases of grains and greenhouse crops are of particular concern. Fusarium species also produce mycotoxins in association with plants, causing a direct health threat to animals and humans that eat the plants.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Well, I guess somebody had better tell the makers of “Tilex” bathroom cleanser. Explain please?
“This article isn’t an indictment of plumbing drains but rather a commentary on the sloven nature of most people.”
Where in the article does it say that?
Wonderful research, great reporting; do you think they could spare a sentence or two concerning what to do about it?
&&&
Exactly what I was thinking. I went to the link just to get some practical information.
I periodically scrub out the drain area of the bathroom sink down as far as an old toothbrush will reach. I use a bleach based cleaner. I hope I am breaking up the biofilm and offing these disgusting molds, but who knows?
Hydrogen peroxide works well also.
“”Once in every month, a cup in every drain.”
Best drain cleaner there is.”
Do not think bleach is a good option for those on septic tank systems.
Also, there is a hard surfaces only caveat for the efficacy of bleach. Also note the metal and porcelain cautions on OTC bleach-based cleansers.
Finally, I'd be concerned about concentrations of bleach in traps if I also used ammonia-based household cleansers. I've heard it is not wise to mix the two.
Any part of the plumbing system that can affect you like the article suggests, by definition is above the trap and therefore available to you for cleaning. There would be no point in the study if they meant the plumbing down stream of the trap. Everyone already knows not to play in the septic tank or in raw sewage. If your contact lens or open wound contacts plumbing after or below the trap you are taking your recreation in the wrong place.
...infections in humans, typically entering the body through wounds or trauma, via catheters and intravenous devices or by introduction of a biofilm to the eye. ...In one high-profile case, Fusarium was found to have caused a widely publicized 2005-06 outbreak of fungal keratitis -- infection of the cornea -- among contact-lens wearers.
Wash your counter tops, kitchen sink, lavatory sink, toilet and tub and you won't have these problems. These surfaces are dirtier than you would believe. That's why I said; “This article isn’t an indictment of plumbing drains but rather a commentary on the sloven nature of most people.”
“Wash your counter tops, kitchen sink, lavatory sink, toilet and tub and you won’t have these problems.”
The article’s focus was on biofilms found in drains. How would washing surface areas affect that issue?
Gee thanks for letting this secret out.
Now the price of Clorox will skyrocket and there will be a seven day waiting period to purchase.
First thing I thought of too, so I did some digging. Clorox works for some fungi on non porous surfaces (most drains are PVC now, so that should work on the few fungi they claim it will kill on non porous surfaces). I just don’t know that it will kill this.
Thanks for the response.
You don’t have access to the drain beyond the trap. What they are calling the drain is the hole the water runs through and the first inch or two of the drain. You can clean that.
What could that positive role be?
Guess I’ll stop licking the drains. :P
Did they check the drain in Jerry Sandusky’s shower stall?
I was afraid we were going to run out of things to stress about....but someone is on the ball and will see to it that we don’t get to relax for one second!
that is funny and I hope your wife doesn’t read free republic or you will be in the dog house sleeping and eating with him, but a dog can help keep you warm at night...
Every now and then I pour a pot of boiling water down my kitchen drains...figure it would melt guck that might be clinging to the side walls of the pipes..also use baking soda and vinegar. That bubbles up and cleans the drains also...
some combinations of cleaners is a big no no...it causes a toxic reaction that can kill...this goes for those cleaners used in toilets..use the cleaner and don’t add extra bleach or ammonia at the same time. Fumes kill..
Germs....nothing like a little clorox!! Clean the counters with wipes.
But the big thing is if you have a disposal...let it run with water flowing for 15 seconds after everything is chewed.
I have a septic tank and use a little bleach when washing clothes, but always wonder if just that amount would kill the good enzymes and bacteria in the septic tank...I do use Rid X once a month to give the tank back its enzymes...No disposal...
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