Search results for "Persisters"

Contamination of a hospital plumbing system by persister cells of a copper-tolerant high-risk clone of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2019

Abstract Background Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is an important opportunistic pathogen that thrives best in the distal elements of plumbing and waste-water systems. Although nosocomial outbreaks of PA have been associated with water sources, the role of the plumbing system of healthcare premises as a reservoir for this pathogen is still unclear. Materials and methods We collected water samples from 12 technical areas, distant from any medical activity, in a teaching hospital in France once a week for 11 weeks. We used a method that resuscitates persister cells because of the nutrient-poor conditions and the presence of inhibitors (e.g. chlorine and copper ions). Briefly, water was sampled i…