Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major opportunistic pathogen responsible for severe infections in immunocompromised patients. The contamination of drinking water networks (DWNs) with this pathogen is underestimated, as it is mostly in the state of persister cells undetected by the recommended monitoring technique. We collected water samples from eight cities distant from each other and searched for P. aeruginosa using a culture-based method that resuscitates persister cells. The genomes of isolates were sequenced. Five DWNs of the eight tested (62.5%) were contaminated with P. aeruginosa, of which four were contaminated with high-risk clones (ST308, ST395). Surprisingly, the ST308 isolates retrieved from the four independent and distant DWNs were clonal. Most P. aeruginosa isolates shared a genomic island conferring tolerance to copper-ions. The population structure of the collection may result from both a common source of contamination by plumbing supplies and the selection of clones sharing genetic elements that presumably aided their propagation in DWNs.

铜绿假单胞菌是导致免疫功能低下患者严重感染的主要机会病原体。这种病原体对饮用水网络 (DWN) 的污染被低估，因为它大多处于持久细胞状态，推荐的监测技术未检测到。我们从相距遥远的八个城市收集了水样，并使用基于培养的方法来复苏存留细胞，以寻找铜绿假单胞菌。对分离株的基因组进行了测序。八个测试中的五个 DWN（62.5%）被铜绿假单胞菌污染，其中四个被高风险克隆（ST308、ST395）污染。令人惊讶的是，从四个独立且遥远的 DWN 中检索到的 ST308 分离株是克隆的。大多数铜绿假单胞菌分离株共享一个基因组岛，赋予对铜离子的耐受性。该集合的种群结构可能是由管道供应的常见污染源和共享遗传元件的克隆的选择造成的，这些遗传元件可能有助于它们在深水网络中的繁殖。