Gina, I think it is a good idea to be cautious when doing gardening activities. I love to garden also. I have my husband do the digging in the soil and handle the repotting. I basically just scatter the seeds from my zinnias and pick the tomatoes and peas. I also trim the bushes.

windwalker aka Terri...your word Ubiquitus (I bet you took Latin in High School) is so true. Awhile ago some people who had had open heart surgery a few months before were getting severe wound infections surrounding their chest surgical sites and dying Investigation revealed that they had a virulent NTM variety...was it Chelona...I forget....and it was traced to a machine used during the open heart surgery. Parts of the machine when disinfected between usage/patients were not sterilized so that the NTM grew....and they think a fan in the machine blew the NTM into the open chest hence the infections after the bacterium multiplied after several months.
They narrowed it down to one brand of machine made in another country..
Also...my gynecologist told me there is a variety of NTM in females in their vaginal area that causes infertility. It is curable with l think he said Cipro and then the woman is able to get pregnant
NTM trivia
tdrell aka terri.

ginak...I got a steel head for shower head....l leave door open and fan on when l shower and try not to inhale much. I am unable to use bathtub since l have had both hips replaced and cannot do the in and out of tub. I try not to drink much from faucet when home...l buy gallons of Spring water and drink that....and make ice cubes manually NOT from refrig icemaker....using spring water.....you can buy ice cube forms anywhere....tdrell

I'm just writing to mention to the lady wishing she could use her bathtub that there are some inexpensive seats that will take you don to the bottom of the tub and bring you back up by remote. If you google bath tub lifts there are many to choose from. I think they range from $200 to $550. I bought the 550 one because it raised up 4 inches higher than the others I found and I needed that extra height to easily get up from the chair. I absolutely love it and worth every penny. Just saying in case anyone is interested. I first looked at the walk in tubs but the seats were lower within the tub and it was hard for me to rise from the seat. (And of course, they are much more expensive. With this lift you don't have to have your bathroom torn out -- it a lightweight contraption weighs about 20 pounds and just sets down in the existing tub you have. I think it's great !!!

Found this on the National Jewish Hospital website regarding pink slime: Pink Slime and NTM - Recently, we discovered that whenever a biofilm sample has pink-pigmented bacteria (Methylobacterium), there are no NTM. Evidently, the two cannot coexist in biofilms. Taps or showerheads in a home with NTM don’t have Methylobacterium. As not all taps or showerheads in a home will have NTM, use those that show evidence of a pink scum or film; the pink scum will be seen on shower curtains, shower walls, or in crevasses in a shower or sink.

Lindam272....you are a genius for finding this!!! Tdrell

I don't see pink film in the shower.But I do see pinkish water ring in the toilet that tells me that it's time to scrub the toilet. Does that count?

Yes, it counts.

Thank you Linda for posting this. It is nice knowing that there is an info source that we can check back on. I find this pink methylobacterium an interesting thing. Wonder if they are using it in any way to come up with a drug to combat MAC?

This is awesome! I used to hate when the pink would form in my bathrooms. Now, I am glad! LOL, I just pictured NTM patients working with a realtor and saying...."Yes, the newly renovated kitchen and bath is nice, but does it have pink slime?"