In recent years, various household medical devices that require water have become very popular – portable humidifiers or nasal wash devices. As experts from the US Centers for Disease Prevention and Treatment (CDC) found, many citizens calmly fill them with tap water, and this increases the risk of the spread of infections, including legionellosis or a brain-eating amoeba.
The CDC has warned that tap water is not sterile. Its use in home medical devices can lead to contamination with waterborne pathogens.
For example, in the United States, a survey was conducted that showed that many citizens believe that tap water can be safely used for home medical devices.
Although tap water is treated to safe drinking standards, levels of microorganisms remain low in drinking water distribution systems. Most are harmless and the water is safe for drinking and cooking, but it may not always be safe for other uses such as aerosol inhalation and eye or nose irrigation.
Scientists spoke in more detail about these dangerous microorganisms. For example, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most common causative agents of nosocomial infections. Treatment is difficult due to high resistance to antibiotics. It is also a non-tuberculous mycobacterium that causes lung diseases resembling tuberculosis. In addition, it is Acanthamoeba spp. (protozoa that cause skin damage) and Naegleria fowleri (an amoeba named “amoeba-brainworm” – it causes a serious illness, as it feeds on brain tissue and literally destroys the brain).
Most HTM and Legionella infections are acquired through inhalation. Previous studies have shown measurable concentrations of HTMs in aerosols from humidifiers. Water quality affects the quality of aerosol air emitted by humidifiers, scientists warn.
Older adults, infants and young children, and people with weakened immune systems and other underlying health conditions are most at risk for high-impact infections.
Experts advised using sterile water when operating such devices, or you can boil tap water for 5 minutes and then cool it.
Source: Rosbalt
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
