scholarly journals Impact of Chlorine and Chloramine on the Detection and Quantification of Legionella pneumophila and Mycobacterium Species

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maura J. Donohue ◽  
Steve Vesper ◽  
Jatin Mistry ◽  
Joyce M. Donohue
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
The United States ◽  
Water Disinfection ◽  
Nontuberculous Mycobacterium ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Chlorine Residual

ABSTRACT Potable water can be a source of transmission for legionellosis and nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections and diseases. Legionellosis is caused largely by Legionella pneumophila, specifically serogroup 1 (Sg1). Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and Mycobacterium abscessus are three leading species associated with pulmonary NTM disease. The estimated rates of these diseases are increasing in the United States, and the cost of treatment is high. Therefore, a national assessment of water disinfection efficacy for these pathogens was needed. The disinfectant type and total chlorine residual (TClR) were investigated to understand their influence on the detection and concentrations of the five pathogens in potable water. Samples (n = 358) were collected from point-of-use taps (cold or hot) from locations across the United States served by public water utilities that disinfected with chlorine or chloramine. The bacteria were detected and quantified using specific primer and probe quantitative-PCR (qPCR) methods. The total chlorine residual was measured spectrophotometrically. Chlorine was the more potent disinfectant for controlling the three mycobacterial species. Chloramine was effective at controlling L. pneumophila and Sg1. Plotting the TClR associated with positive microbial detection showed that an upward TClR adjustment could reduce the bacterial count in chlorinated water but was not as effective for chloramine. Each species of bacteria responded differently to the disinfection type, concentration, and temperature. There was no unifying condition among the water characteristics studied that achieved microbial control for all. This information will help guide disinfectant decisions aimed at reducing occurrences of these pathogens at consumer taps and as related to the disinfectant type and TClR. IMPORTANCE The primary purpose of tap water disinfection is to control the presence of microbes. This study evaluated the role of disinfectant choice on the presence at the tap of L. pneumophila, its Sg1 serogroup, and three species of mycobacteria in tap water samples collected at points of human exposure at locations across the United States. The study demonstrates that microbial survival varies based on the microbial species, disinfectant, and TClR.

scholarly journals Comparison of two culture methods for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila from potable water samples

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura A. Boczek ◽  
Min Tang ◽  
Casey Formal ◽  
Darren Lytle ◽  
Hodon Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Contaminated Water ◽  
Plumbing System ◽  
Culture Methods ◽  
False Negatives

Abstract Legionella infections have steadily increased in the United States over the last 20 years, and most of these infections have been attributed to contaminated water. The gold standard for confirmation of Legionella presence in water is culturing with Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract (BCYE) agar. Following many modifications, this method is still time-consuming, expensive, and can take longer than 10 days for full confirmation. The Legiolert is a newer and simpler culture product that is claimed to be able to quantify Legionella pneumophila in 7 days with high sensitivity and specificity and does not need further confirmation for the presence of L. pneumophila. This study compared the culturability of L. pneumophila occurring in a simulated home plumbing system using both Legiolert and BCYE agar methods. Out of 185 water samples, Legiolert and BCYE method detected L. pneumophila in 83 and 85% of the samples, respectively. The two methods were determined to be statistically equivalent for culturability of L. pneumophila, though the detected levels by Legiolert were slightly higher than the BCYE method. The molecular confirmation of positive (n = 254) and negative wells (n = 82) with Legiolert also showed a high specificity of 96.5% (i.e., 3.5% false positives (9/254) and 0% false negatives (0/82)).

scholarly journals Genome Sequences of Eight Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from a Produce-Growing Region in California

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig T. Parker ◽  
Kerry K. Cooper ◽  
Steven Huynh ◽  
Timothy P. Smith ◽  
James L. Bono ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
The United States ◽  
Foodborne Illness ◽  
Genome Sequences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Leafy Greens ◽  
Growing Region

Produce contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a continuing source of foodborne illness in the United States. This report documents the complete genome sequences of eight STEC strains isolated from livestock and water samples taken from a major agricultural region for leafy greens in California.

NCSS notable trade book lesson plan: the girl who buried her dreams in a can

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-126
Author(s):  
Takisha Durm
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Research Design ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Lesson Plan ◽  
The United States ◽  
Elementary Grades ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
Future Date

PurposeThe Girl Who Buried Her Dreams in a Can, written by Dr Tererai, profiles a cultural, yet global experience of the power of believing in one's dream. Through this study of the similarities and differences of how children in the United States and abroad live and dream of a better life, this lesson seeks to enhance students' understandings of the power and authority they possess to effect change not only within their own lives but also in the lives of countless others in world. After reading the text, students will work to create vision boards illustrating their plans to effect change within their homes, schools, communities, states or countries. They will present their plans to their peers. To culminate the lesson, the students will bury their dreams in can and collectively decide on a future date to revisit the can to determine how far they have progressed in accomplishing their goals.Design/methodology/approachThis is an elementary grades 3–6 lesson plan. There was no research design/methodology/approach included.FindingsAs this is a lesson plan and no actual research was represented, there are no findings.Originality/valueThis is an original lesson plan completed by the first author Takisha Durm.

Washington will rethink its foreign chip strategy

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
The United States ◽  
Export Controls ◽  
Political Pressure ◽  
Technical Standards ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Us ◽  
Technology Competition ◽  
Business In China

Significance Follow-on action from Washington and responses from foreign actors will shape the US government’s adversarial policy towards China in semiconductors and other strategic technologies. Impacts The Biden administration will likely conclude that broad-based diversion of the semiconductor supply chain away from China is not feasible. The United States will rely on export controls and political pressure to prevent diffusion to China of cutting-edge chip technologies. The United States will focus on persuading foreign semiconductor leaders to help develop US capabilities, thereby staying ahead of China. Washington will focus on less direct approaches to strategic technology competition with China, notably technical standards-setting. Industry leaders in the semiconductor supply chain worldwide will continue expanding business in China in less politically sensitive areas.

Canada-US ties will see fewer irritants under Biden

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
Oil Industry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Donald Trump ◽  
Federal Election ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Un Peacekeeping ◽  
Keystone Xl ◽  
Keystone Xl Pipeline

Significance Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is preparing to welcome a more predictable and stable partner in Biden than outgoing Republican President Donald Trump. However, Biden is also expected quickly to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, cutting another lifeline to Canada’s oil industry and creating some strain in Canada-US ties. Impacts Improved Canada-US ties will persist even if Trudeau loses the next federal election to Conservative Erin O’Toole. Canada will re-engage militarily with UN peacekeeping and NATO deployments. Trudeau will encourage Biden to end US prosecution of Meng Wanzhou, allowing Canada to release her; Biden may agree. Canada’s border with the United States will open in stages as COVID-19 recedes. Ottawa will push Biden to end ‘Buy American’ procurement policies, with little success.

Washington will engage more with South-east Asia

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
East Asia ◽  
The United States ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
National Unity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Set Up

Significance She addressed two key issues during her trip: tensions in post-coup Myanmar and China’s growing regional footprint. Shortly after she left the region, the United States announced that it would donate unused COVID-19 vaccines abroad, including to South-east Asia. Impacts Washington will tighten its sanctions on the Myanmar military while supporting ASEAN’s five-point plan to ease the country’s crisis. The National Unity Government, a parallel administration to Myanmar’s junta set up by its opponents, will try to attract greater US backing. Manila and Washington may extend negotiations over renewing their Visiting Forces Agreement to prevent the pact expiring in August.

Associations of Community Water Lead Concentrations with Hemoglobin Concentrations and Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agent Use among Patients with Advanced CKD

2021 ◽  
pp. ASN.2020091281
Author(s):  
John Danziger ◽  
Kenneth J. Mukamal ◽  
Eric Weinhandl
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
The United States ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Community Water Systems ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Lead Levels

BackgroundAlthough patients with kidney disease may be particularly susceptible to the adverse health effects associated with lead exposure, whether levels of lead found commonly in drinking water are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with ESKD is not known.MethodsTo investigate associations of lead in community water systems with hemoglobin concentrations and erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) use among incident patients with ESKD, we merged data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Information System (documenting average 90th percentile lead concentrations in community water systems during 5 years before dialysis initiation, according to city of residence) with patient-level data from the United States Renal Data System.ResultsAmong 597,968 patients initiating dialysis in the United States in 2005 through 2017, those in cities with detectable lead levels in community water had significantly lower pre-ESKD hemoglobin concentrations and more ESA use per 0.01 mg/L increase in 90th percentile water lead. Findings were similar for the 208,912 patients with data from the first month of ESKD therapy, with lower hemoglobin and higher ESA use per 0.01 mg/L higher lead concentration. These associations were observed at lead levels below the EPA threshold (0.015 mg/L) that mandates regulatory action. We also observed environmental inequities, finding significantly higher water lead levels and slower declines over time among Black versus White patients.ConclusionsThis first nationwide analysis linking EPA water supply records to patient data shows that even low levels of lead that are commonly encountered in community water systems throughout the United States are associated with lower hemoglobin levels and higher ESA use among patients with advanced kidney disease.

Neither side is ready to step back in Georgian crisis

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Foreign Direct Investment ◽  
Direct Investment ◽  
Prime Minister ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Eu Membership ◽  
National Movement ◽  
Election Victory ◽  
Political Turmoil

Significance The authorities went ahead with the arrest of Nika Melia, leader of the opposition United National Movement (UNM), on February 23 even after the prime minister resigned in protest. Georgian Dream's actions have caused concern in Western capitals that approved its election victory when the opposition cried foul. Impacts The crisis is a setback for the government's stated plan to apply for EU membership in 2024. There is growing talk in the United States about individual sanctions targeting Ivanishvili and his associates. Political turmoil will harm hopes of foreign direct investment and the imminent Anaklia port tender.

Online disinformation is greater risk for older users

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Voter Turnout ◽  
Senior Citizens ◽  
Rapid Evolution ◽  
The United States ◽  
Content Type ◽  
News Source ◽  
The Us ◽  
Older Users ◽  
Special Concern

Significance The growing numbers of senior citizens in the United States, their rapidly increasing adoption of social media and their high levels of voter turnout make their vulnerability to disinformation a matter of special concern. Other advanced democracies likely mirror the US experience. Impacts Older US adults' use of television as their primary news source may provide some bulwark against being targeted by disinformation online. The rapid evolution of news distribution technologies will challenge older adults used to a more slowly changing media landscape. Further research is necessary to determine the causes of age-based vulnerability and levels of resilience.

Indonesian cybersecurity faces geopolitical hurdles

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Civil Society ◽  
Data Protection ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
The United States ◽  
Digital Economy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Personal Data Protection ◽  
State Surveillance ◽  
Data Protection Law

Significance Such programmes contribute not only to Indonesia’s efforts to boost the cyber readiness of its booming digital economy, but are also designed to maintain China's friendly relations with South-east Asia’s largest economy amid the intensifying technology tensions between China and the United States. Impacts The Personal Data Protection Law would need to clarify key provisions and concepts to be effective. The BSSN’s extensive powers will fuel civil society concerns about excessive state surveillance. Turning down Chinese technology suppliers carries cost and wider economic ramifications for Jakarta.

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