What is "Pulmonary NTM Disease," a lung illness that has been on the rise recently?
Are you familiar with pulmonary NTM disease, which has been gaining attention on TV recently and is said to be on the rise? The bacteria causing it lurk in household tap water. This is a disease where lung infection occurs by inhaling water particles.
NTM is a relative of tuberculosis and is known as Non-Tuberculous Mycobacteriosis.
While tuberculosis can spread from person to person, pulmonary NTM disease has the characteristic of not being transmitted between people.
Initial symptoms are similar to a cold, including coughing, phlegm, and low-grade fever, but if it worsens, it can lead to respiratory failure and be life-threatening.
There is currently no established treatment method or specific cure. If one contracts this disease, long-term treatment is required, with some cases needing treatment for as long as 20 years.
2.6-fold increase from 2007 to 2014
The graph above shows a significant increase in pulmonary NTM disease, surpassing tuberculosis.
Previously, it was thought to be a weakly infectious bacterium that only infected individuals with weakened immunity. However, as awareness among medical professionals increased, leading to more accurate diagnoses, it has recently become clear that infections in healthy individuals are rapidly increasing.
The bacteria causing pulmonary NTM disease proliferate in household water systems and infect the lungs through water splashes when water is run.
The currently known countermeasure is to suppress bacterial growth by circulating water.
When do they proliferate?
It's known that if water is left stagnant for 24 hours near faucets exposed to air, the number of bacteria can increase 40-fold, so it's important to circulate water periodically.
When you've been away from home for a trip, it's recommended to let the water run for about 5 seconds.
The bathroom, especially the showerhead, poses a particularly high risk of infection.
The back of the showerhead tends to accumulate water droplets and can become dirty.
If the showerhead is dirty, it creates an environment where bacteria and fungi can easily multiply, which is believed to cause pulmonary NTM disease.
For this reason, we recommend cleaning the showerhead, faucet, and water heater outlet as part of our house cleaning services for bathrooms.
Are disinfectants not effective?
NTM bacteria are covered by a membrane called biofilm, which gives them resistance to both chlorine and alcohol, meaning disinfectants have little bactericidal effect.
Disassembling and cleaning the showerhead is the most hygienic option.
Therefore, regular cleaning and maintenance are important to remove dirt from the showerhead. Below are the general steps for cleaning a showerhead:
Effective cleaning method
1. Remove the showerhead.
2. Wash the showerhead with detergent and lukewarm water, and use a brush or toothbrush to clean the nozzles.
3. After cleaning the showerhead, reattach it and it's ready for use.
By cleaning the showerhead, you can maximize consideration for microbial risk. If the showerhead cannot be removed, heat disinfection with water above 70 degrees Celsius is effective.
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