'PINK SLIME' Data Base

Posted by Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor @windwalker, Jul 26, 2017

Dear Connect Members,

Remember the poll I started about who has the 'pink slime' AKA Methylobacterium in their bathrooms? I have been in contact with Joseph Falkinham, a NTM reseacher and professor at Virginia Tech. He is very interested in starting a data base for where this particular bacterium is located throughout the U.S. and Canada. I have noted the locales from those of you who have already responded. Am encouraging any others with the pinkish/orange bacteria to report it back here to me. I don't know about you, but I am excited to be a part of important research.
Please include your state and county name when submitting. Thank you in advance for helping with this poll. See e-mail below from Dr. Falkinham - Terri M.

"Dear Terri:

The source of mycobacteria in homes and buildings is the municipal water from a utility. It enters the treatment plant from the source water, usually adhering to soil particulates. The mycobacteria are disinfectant-resistant and are the few survivors of disinfection (e.g., chlorine) and have no competitors that have been killed off.

When that water reaches our homes, the mycobacteria grow in the water heaters and then are circulated throughout the house. We are currently finishing up work showing the impact of the water heater on mycobacterial numbers. Thus, the critical control point for mycobacteria might be the water heater.

I would certainly appreaciate knowing where the "Connect" group has found pink slime. You have given me an idea....I can use the NTM Foundation data base to get an idea of pink slime across the US and Canada.

Best,
Joe"

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

12061948 | @12061948 | May 8, 2019

I replied on another site to you investigating but I haven’t seen any pink slime anywhere in my home but I see that Dr. Falkinham is saying it’s in the water heater maybe the sources. I’m just trying to figure out what’s causing my illness and my stiff neck and etc. bad pain in chronic fatigue

12061948 | @12061948 | May 8, 2019

In reply to @12061948 "I replied on another site to you investigating but I haven’t seen any pink slime anywhere..." + (show)

I have been diagnosed by two drs with Serratia Marcecens high levels in a sinus cultures. Two different labs found the same thing.

Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 9, 2019

In reply to @sandytoes14 "I was recently at a friend's house in Prattville Alabama. The pink slime was in the..." + (show)

Ewwww! (Pink slime) @sanditoes14 Hi Jen! Haven't heard from you in awhile. How are things going?

Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 9, 2019

In reply to @12061948 "I have been diagnosed by two drs with Serratia Marcecens high levels in a sinus cultures...." + (show)

@12061948 Hi there. Serratia in the sinuses sounds aweful. Is there a treatment plan in place yet? If so, what is their plan? Have you been in a hospital or nursing home type environment recently?

12061948 | @12061948 | May 9, 2019

In reply to @windwalker "@12061948 Hi there. Serratia in the sinuses sounds aweful. Is there a treatment plan in place..." + (show)

I have allergic reactions to ciprofloxacin and Levaquin so they can’t use that so they are using something called EDTA which is a solution that contains silver and something else that helps at it adhere to the sinuses
I’m just wondering if anyone else has been diagnosed with it and if they’re having like a neurological issues from it. I was in the hospital in 2014 and two weeks after that I started having tremors and facial freezing up and I’m still having those issues so now I’m wondering if I’ve had it all this time and it’s just now been diagnosed. I had several Endoscopy and yes I was in a nursing home environment when visiting my mother-in-law. I was just wondering if I picked it up somewhere visiting someone in the hospital also. We’ve had several family members in the past few years Ill and passing away so who knows. We are at that age with lost a lot of family because I’m 70 now and I’ve been ill since I’m 65. In fall of 2013 I got like a viral infection and dizziness and vertigo and sore throat and it’s just been crazy ever since. I did leave a voicemail for Dr. Falkinham
I sent him an email but of course I imagine he’s pretty busy I was just wondering if he had ever seen it causes neurological problems. Thank you for responding

Jennifer | @megan123 | May 10, 2019

In reply to @windwalker "Ewwww! (Pink slime) @sanditoes14 Hi Jen! Haven't heard from you in awhile. How are things going?" + (show)

Hi Terry....things are pretty Good...still on the big 3, but maybe going off of meds in July, depending on CT scan and next sputum...have been negative for close to a year...cavity has shrunk somewhat as well...❤️

12061948 | @12061948 | May 10, 2019

In reply to @12061948 "I have allergic reactions to ciprofloxacin and Levaquin so they can’t use that so they are..." + (show)

I did hear from joe Frankinham
He thought it was more likely I had metholbacterium. Infection. If I spelled that right.
That sometimes the labs get them mixed up because they look the same in the culture both of these bacteria’s have a pinkish red when they grow so I called the lab and they said they did the DNA test on the bacteria and it was definitely Serratia Marcescens. He recommended I see an infectious disease doctors he gave the name of two that are located in Tyler Texas
Coincidently I saw a doctor yesterday and she also recommended an infectious disease doctor. And also my ENT called this morning and they recommended an infectious disease doctor. So I have an appointment Monday see what I can find out because I’m tired of being sick and in pain.
Thank you for your help
Goldie