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Mentor

'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.

Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 11, 2019
In reply to @12061948 "I did hear from joe Frankinham He thought it was more likely I had metholbacterium. Infection...." + (show)
@12061948

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

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@12061948 Hi Goldie. Gosh, I hope you can get to feeling better soon. Had you been in a hospital or nursing home setting where you would have likely picked this up at? Good luck on Monday. Please keep me posted.

REPLY
1 reply
sounder27 | @sounder27 | May 19, 2019

I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.

REPLY
2 replies
irene5 Irene Estes | @irene5 | May 19, 2019
In reply to @sounder27 "I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and..." + (show)
@sounder27

I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.

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@sounder27All I can say is I feel so bad for you! When you said you never had MAC till the condo, I knew how you felt. I have said that too - not about a condo, but I said that too. I guess we just have to move on knowing we do have MAC, and try not to beat ourselves up with questions of - if we had done certain things differently.

REPLY
sounder27 | @sounder27 | May 20, 2019
In reply to @12061948 "I have allergic reactions to ciprofloxacin and Levaquin so they can’t use that so they are..." + (show)
@12061948

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

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Just wondering if you got my post about the pinkish/ peachy residue that I got on my shower head, sinks and toilets. I posted last night. I have lived in this condo for 19 years and contracted Mac about a year after I changed the water heater. I live in Cranston, RI. Once the water heater was changed the pink residue disappeared. I stay on the lookout for it as the plumber told me it was from the metals in the water that sink to the bottom of the water heater creating sludge. That means the water heater is ready to burst. I also have sinus problems but never got them checked. Too many other bigger issues to deal with. Mac, bronchiectasis, gerd, atrial fibrillation and fibromyalgia. All diagnosed.

REPLY
1 reply
Jo Ann K | @jkiemen | May 20, 2019

I read that it was OK to have Pink Slime.

REPLY
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 20, 2019
In reply to @sounder27 "I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and..." + (show)
@sounder27

I live in Cranston, R I. I had pinkish orange residue on my shower head and build up around my bathroom sink with a water heater that I have since replaced because it finally burst. The plumber told me that the pinkish residue shows up before a water heater is ready to burst as it is the metalic sludge such as iron rust that builds up in the water heater over the years. I did not have MAC before I moved to this condo.

Jump to this post

@sounder27 Just curious, did you live in the same area as your present location as the condo?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 20, 2019
In reply to @windwalker "@12061948 Hi Goldie. Gosh, I hope you can get to feeling better soon. Had you been..." + (show)
@windwalker

@12061948 Hi Goldie. Gosh, I hope you can get to feeling better soon. Had you been in a hospital or nursing home setting where you would have likely picked this up at? Good luck on Monday. Please keep me posted.

Jump to this post

@12061948 Hello Goldie. How did your appointment go last Monday?

REPLY
Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | May 20, 2019
In reply to @sounder27 "Just wondering if you got my post about the pinkish/ peachy residue that I got on..." + (show)
@sounder27

Just wondering if you got my post about the pinkish/ peachy residue that I got on my shower head, sinks and toilets. I posted last night. I have lived in this condo for 19 years and contracted Mac about a year after I changed the water heater. I live in Cranston, RI. Once the water heater was changed the pink residue disappeared. I stay on the lookout for it as the plumber told me it was from the metals in the water that sink to the bottom of the water heater creating sludge. That means the water heater is ready to burst. I also have sinus problems but never got them checked. Too many other bigger issues to deal with. Mac, bronchiectasis, gerd, atrial fibrillation and fibromyalgia. All diagnosed.

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@sounder27 I have pink slime starting to form around my bathroom sink drain (because I am past due on my cleaning) now I am worried that my hot water tank is about to blow. It is 10 yrs old now. Scary part is; it is located in the attic (not my idea).

REPLY
1 reply
sounder27 | @sounder27 | May 20, 2019
In reply to @windwalker "@sounder27 Just curious, did you live in the same area as your present location as the..." + (show)
@windwalker

@sounder27 Just curious, did you live in the same area as your present location as the condo?

Jump to this post

Windwalker. I still live in that same condo, yes. I do not have choices due to lack of sufficient funds. Long story...I will have to eventually move again due to lack of sufficient funds and a hefty parent plus student loan obligation.

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