Prof. Joseph Falkinham

The Falkinham Lab focuses on understanding the epidemiology, ecology, physiology, and genetics of the nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), primarily the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC). NTM are environmental opportunistic pathogens whose source of infection includes soil and drinking water. Lab studies have identified physiologic features of NTM that are determinants of their ecology and transmission to humans, including surface hydrophobicity, attachment to surfaces, concentration in aerosols, resistance to disinfectants (e.g., chlorine), growth in protozoa and amoebae, and the ability to grow on low concentrations of organic matter at low oxygen levels. Thus, NTM are ideally suited for growth and persistence in plumbing in households, hospitals, and medical equipment. Significantly, NTM isolated from patients and their household plumbing share the same DNA fingerprints. Further, households with well water sources and high water heater temperatures seldom have NTM, and carbon-containing, in-line filters, including those in water taps and refrigerators, harbor high numbers of NTM. Since October 2015, the Falkinham Lab has been developing protocols to disinfect heater-coolers and operating room instruments linked to infection by Mycobacterium chimaera and Mycobacterium abscessus.