Vermamoeba vermiformis resides in water-based heater-cooler units and can enhance Mycobacterium chimaera survival after chlorine exposure.

Maarten Sarink; Gert van Cappellen; Lodewijk Tielens; Antony van Dijk; Ad Bogers; Jurriaan de Steenwinkel; Greet Vos; Juliette Severin; Jaap van Hellemond

doi:doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.12.011

Vermamoeba vermiformis resides in water-based heater-cooler units and can enhance Mycobacterium chimaera survival after chlorine exposure.

Maarten Sarink, Gert van Cappellen, Lodewijk Tielens, Antony van Dijk, Ad Bogers, Jurriaan de Steenwinkel, Greet Vos, Juliette Severin, Jaap van Hellemond^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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Abstract

Background
Mycobacterium chimaera colonizes water-based heater–cooler units (HCUs), from which it can spread to patients during surgery. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a free-living waterborne amoeba, which was consistently present within HCUs.
Aim
To determine whether these amoebae can be involved in the persistent presence of M. chimaera.
Methods
An in-vitro disinfection model.
Findings
Increased survival of M. chimaera was observed after chlorine exposure in the presence of V. vermiformis. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the intracellular presence of M. chimaera in V. vermiformis.
Conclusion
In this way, V. vermiformis can contribute to the persistent presence of M. chimaera in HCUs. Cleaning and disinfection protocols should take this phenomenon into account.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	73-77
Number of pages	5
Journal	Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume	132
DOIs	https://doi.org/doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.12.011
Publication status	Published - Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Wim van Vianen and Diana van Netten for technical assistance.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)

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PIIS0195670122003887Final published version, 766 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{aef200563f634e25aeb4af36a7a78576,

title = "Vermamoeba vermiformis resides in water-based heater-cooler units and can enhance Mycobacterium chimaera survival after chlorine exposure.",

abstract = "BackgroundMycobacterium chimaera colonizes water-based heater–cooler units (HCUs), from which it can spread to patients during surgery. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a free-living waterborne amoeba, which was consistently present within HCUs.AimTo determine whether these amoebae can be involved in the persistent presence of M. chimaera.MethodsAn in-vitro disinfection model.FindingsIncreased survival of M. chimaera was observed after chlorine exposure in the presence of V. vermiformis. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the intracellular presence of M. chimaera in V. vermiformis.ConclusionIn this way, V. vermiformis can contribute to the persistent presence of M. chimaera in HCUs. Cleaning and disinfection protocols should take this phenomenon into account.",

author = "Maarten Sarink and {van Cappellen}, Gert and Lodewijk Tielens and {van Dijk}, Antony and Ad Bogers and {de Steenwinkel}, Jurriaan and Greet Vos and Juliette Severin and {van Hellemond}, Jaap",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Wim van Vianen and Diana van Netten for technical assistance. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 The Author(s)",

year = "2023",

month = feb,

doi = "doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.12.011",

language = "English",

volume = "132",

pages = "73--77",

journal = "Journal of Hospital Infection",

issn = "0195-6701",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Vermamoeba vermiformis resides in water-based heater-cooler units and can enhance Mycobacterium chimaera survival after chlorine exposure.

AU - Sarink, Maarten

AU - van Cappellen, Gert

AU - Tielens, Lodewijk

AU - van Dijk, Antony

AU - Bogers, Ad

AU - de Steenwinkel, Jurriaan

AU - Vos, Greet

AU - Severin, Juliette

AU - van Hellemond, Jaap

PY - 2023/2

Y1 - 2023/2

N2 - BackgroundMycobacterium chimaera colonizes water-based heater–cooler units (HCUs), from which it can spread to patients during surgery. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a free-living waterborne amoeba, which was consistently present within HCUs.AimTo determine whether these amoebae can be involved in the persistent presence of M. chimaera.MethodsAn in-vitro disinfection model.FindingsIncreased survival of M. chimaera was observed after chlorine exposure in the presence of V. vermiformis. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the intracellular presence of M. chimaera in V. vermiformis.ConclusionIn this way, V. vermiformis can contribute to the persistent presence of M. chimaera in HCUs. Cleaning and disinfection protocols should take this phenomenon into account.

AB - BackgroundMycobacterium chimaera colonizes water-based heater–cooler units (HCUs), from which it can spread to patients during surgery. Vermamoeba vermiformis is a free-living waterborne amoeba, which was consistently present within HCUs.AimTo determine whether these amoebae can be involved in the persistent presence of M. chimaera.MethodsAn in-vitro disinfection model.FindingsIncreased survival of M. chimaera was observed after chlorine exposure in the presence of V. vermiformis. Confocal microscopy demonstrated the intracellular presence of M. chimaera in V. vermiformis.ConclusionIn this way, V. vermiformis can contribute to the persistent presence of M. chimaera in HCUs. Cleaning and disinfection protocols should take this phenomenon into account.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146346360&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.12.011

DO - doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2022.12.011

M3 - Article

SN - 0195-6701

VL - 132

SP - 73

EP - 77

JO - Journal of Hospital Infection

JF - Journal of Hospital Infection

ER -

Vermamoeba vermiformis resides in water-based heater-cooler units and can enhance Mycobacterium chimaera survival after chlorine exposure.

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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