Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Division of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
Wadsworth Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
Water Res. 2022 Mar 1;211:117997. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117997. Epub 2021 Dec 22.
In recent years, drinking water-associated pathogens that can cause infections in immunocompromised or otherwise susceptible individuals (henceforth referred to as DWPI), sometimes referred to as opportunistic pathogens or opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, have received considerable attention. DWPI research has largely been conducted by experts focusing on specific microorganisms or within silos of expertise. The resulting mitigation approaches optimized for a single microorganism may have unintended consequences and trade-offs for other DWPI or other interests (e.g., energy costs and conservation). For example, the ecological and epidemiological issues characteristic of Legionella pneumophila diverge from those relevant for Mycobacterium avium and other nontuberculous mycobacteria. Recent advances in understanding DWPI as part of a complex microbial ecosystem inhabiting drinking water systems continues to reveal additional challenges: namely, how can all microorganisms of concern be managed simultaneously? In order to protect public health, we must take a more holistic approach in all aspects of the field, including basic research, monitoring methods, risk-based mitigation techniques, and policy. A holistic approach will (i) target multiple microorganisms simultaneously, (ii) involve experts across several disciplines, and (iii) communicate results across disciplines and more broadly, proactively addressing source water-to-customer system management.
近年来，饮用水相关病原体（以下简称 DWPI）引起了人们的广泛关注，这些病原体可导致免疫功能低下或其他易感人群感染。DWPI 研究主要由专注于特定微生物或特定专业领域的专家进行。针对单一微生物优化的缓解措施可能会对其他 DWPI 或其他利益相关者（例如能源成本和节约）产生意想不到的后果和权衡。例如，嗜肺军团菌的生态和流行病学问题与鸟分枝杆菌和其他非结核分枝杆菌的相关问题不同。最近在理解 DWPI 作为饮用水系统中复杂微生物生态系统的一部分方面取得的进展，继续揭示了其他挑战：如何同时管理所有相关的微生物？为了保护公众健康，我们必须在该领域的各个方面采取更全面的方法，包括基础研究、监测方法、基于风险的缓解技术以及政策。全面的方法将：（i）同时针对多种微生物；（ii）涉及多个学科的专家；（iii）在学科内和更广泛的范围内交流结果，积极主动地处理从水源到客户系统的管理。
