@article{mbs:/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000822, author = "Hamilton, Lindsay A. and Falkinham, Joseph O.", title = "Aerosolization of Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium abscessus from a household ultrasonic humidifier", journal= "Journal of Medical Microbiology", year = "2018", volume = "67", number = "10", pages = "1491-1495", doi = "https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000822", url = "https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000822", publisher = "Microbiology Society", issn = "1473-5644", type = "Journal Article", keywords = "humidifier", keywords = "aerosols", keywords = "Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus", keywords = "Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis", keywords = "Andersen sampler", abstract = " Purpose. To measure the aerosolization of Mycobacterium avium subspecies hominissuis and Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus from ultrasonic humidifiers. Methodology. An ultrasonic humidifier was filled with sterile tap water and inoculated with water-acclimated cells of either the M. avium or M. abscessus strains to achieve a range of densities similar to those of mycobacteria found in drinking waters. During operation of the humidifier, aerosols were collected using an Andersen 6-Stage Cascade Sampler. Results. Cells of the M. avium and M. abscessus strains were readily aerosolized and recovered in particles (1–5 µm diameter); small enough to enter the furthest reaches of the human lung. Aerosolization of M. abscessus was significantly reduced in the presence of a normal drinking water bacterial flora. Significantly greater numbers of M. avium cells were aerosolized from high-density suspensions (1200 c.f.u. ml−1), than from low-density (120 c.f.u. ml−1) and very low-density (12 c.f.u. ml−1) suspensions. Conclusions. This report documents the potential for M. avium subspecies hominissuis and M. abscessus subspecies abscessus cells in drinking water to be aerosolized from one type of portable humidifier; an ultrasonic humidifier. Care should be taken in using an ultrasonic humidifier where an individual at risk for mycobacterial pulmonary disease could be exposed.", }