Latest News Archive

Please select Category, Year, and then Month to display items

Fungi in water pose great risk to immune-compromised individuals

24 July 2023 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied

Yeast and other filamentous fungi, which pose a great risk to the health of immune-compromised or suppressed individuals, can be found in various drinking water sources such as ground, spring, surface, and tap water. These opportunistic pathogens may cause severe to fatal infections and can range from superficial to bloodstream or systemic infections.

This is according to Tyla Baker, a postgraduate student in the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is studying for her MSc degree in Microbiology under the supervision Prof Carlien Pohl-Albertyn, National Research Forum (NRF) SARChI Research Chair in Pathogenic Yeasts. Prof Jacobus Albertyn and Dr Jolly Musoke are her co-supervisors.

Baker says the fungi in the water highlights that current water treatment processes are not efficient in their removal from water destined for household use. “These infections may not be harmful to people with healthy immune systems, but do pose a great risk to the health of immune-compromised or suppressed individuals.

Definite possibility to contract fungal infections from polluted water

“As the number of people with immune systems that are less functional (e.g. premature babies, elderly persons, people with cancer, diabetes or other serious diseases, HIV+ persons, transplant patients) increases, the number of people at risk of fungal infection also increases,” says Baker.

According to Baker, a previous study done in Brazil has identified yeast in bottled mineral water as well as municipally supplied tap water. The potential risk to contract fungal infections from polluted water sources is a definite possibility but more research is required to fully understand and determine the level of risk and the extent of its effects, she says. In the context of Mangaung, it is a concern that untreated water from sewage works as well as other sewage often leaks into the environment (as evidenced by numerous recent articles in local newspapers). These waters are potential carriers of large numbers of pathogens (including pathogenic yeasts/fungi) that may increase the risk to people coming into contact with it.

Baker says there is a good chance people are consuming these kinds of micro-organisms daily, considering that yeast and other filamentous fungi can also form biofilms inside pipes and spread as the impact of water flow dislodges these cells. “People will not even be aware that they are consuming these micro-organisms, some fungi are considered nuisance microbes and may cause a change in the smell and taste of water which may act as an indicator that the water is contaminated, but tests would be needed to confirm this,” she says.

The effects of consuming these fungi are still a grey area of research since the full extent of the consumption of yeast is still unknown, but there are studies being conducted to elucidate the full impact of this occurrence, says Baker. The risk depends on the immune status of the person, the specific species of yeast/fungus ingested, and the number of cells/spores ingested.

Culture-dependent and independent methods

“It is important to know that many pathogenic yeasts and other fungi are opportunistic pathogens, meaning they infect individuals whose immune systems are compromised due to various reasons such as illness (HIV/AIDS, cancer, TB etc.), undergoing organ transplants or even something as simple as using antimicrobial agents such as antibiotics.

“Taking this into account, along with the HIV/AIDS statistics in South Africa, which has a prevalence rate of 13,7% with approximately 8,2 million people in 2021 living with HIV, these individuals are more susceptible to infection by these opportunistic pathogens. Some of these pathogenic yeasts are also multidrug resistant or show resistance to readily available antifungals, such as fluconazole, which hinders the ability of healthcare professionals to efficiently treat infections to avoid fatal/severe outcomes,” explains Baker.

For her studies, she will be testing for fungi in water by using a combination of culture-dependent and independent methods to try and identify yeast present in wastewater. Baker says culture-dependent techniques will include culturing (growing) yeast on an appropriate medium while culture-independent techniques will include more intricate molecular work in the form of a multiplex PCR (polymerase chain reaction) which will enable her to identify an array of pathogenic yeasts present in samples.

According to Baker, people can stay safe by boiling water before drinking it, although temperatures above 100°C are required to kill most harmful microbes. Regular cleaning of shower heads and faucets help to prevent build-up which may act as a surface to which fungi will attach to and grow. Another way to stay safe is to maintain and regularly inspect water filters for damage and avoid contact with untreated sewage.

News Archive

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS

2006-03-24

During the recent visit of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors (ASAQS) to the University of the Free State (UFS) were from the left Mr Egon Wortmann (Director: ASAQS), Prof Basie Verster (representative of the Free State on the ASAQS and head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS), Mr Greyling Venter (Chairperson: Free State branch of the ASAQS), Prof DG Brümmer(Vice-President: ASAQS) and Mr Patrick Waterson (President: ASAQS).
Photo supplied

Shortage of quantity surveyors discussed at UFS

“The South African building industry is experiencing an unprecedented high level of economic growth and prosperity. This is causing a definite shortage of registered quantity surveyors,” said Mr Egon Wortmann, Director of the Association of South African Quantity Surveyors(ASAQS) during the association’s recent visit to the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the University of the Free State (UFS).

“This shortage is especially noticeable in local and national governments where unqualified and inexperienced staff, consultants and/or facilitators are now appointed,” said Mr Wortmann.

In doing so, the authorities that have adopted this approach are according to Mr Wortmann actually acting illegally and are not in compliance with the legal and statutory requirements of South Africa. “These unprofessional practices are unproductive, it leads to frustration and is strongly condemned by the ASAQS,” he said.

“The service delivery of these unqualified and unregistered service providers is often sub standard and does not comply to the legal requirements of the profession. It may also result in the tarnishing of the image and high professional standards set by the quantity surveying profession,” said Mr Wortmann.

“Universities offering programmes in quantity-surveying and construction management are also negatively affected by the high levels of activity in the building environment. Suitable lecturing staff are leaving the academic institutions as they are attracted to better opportunities being offered in the building industry. The ability of the tertiary institutions to attract young academics, to train them and to keep them in the longer term, is therefore almost impossible”, said Prof Basie Verster, head of the Department of Quantity Surveying and Construction Management at the UFS and representative of the Free State on the ASAQS.

According to Prof Verster the UFS supplies more than its quota of qualified quantity surveyors to the South African building industry. “Although more than 460 students are registered in construction related programmes at the UFS, we are as the ASAQS’s concerned about the shortage of students that can enter the construction industry. In our case, we are experiencing a shortage in black female students,” he said.

“Of the 460 postgraduate students, 38% are black of which 20% are female students. Graduates do also not necessarily stay in the country. As the UFS’s programmes are accredited overseas, a lot of our students leave the country for working opportunities elsewhere,” said Prof Verster.

Mr Patrick Waterson, President of the ASAQS, appealed to quantity surveyors to, when they are approached, consider academic careers or to make themselves available to lecture on a part time basis. “I also appeal to quantity-surveying practices, construction companies and developers to consider taking part in training activities,” he said.

The ASAQS has over the years developed a proud tradition within the quantity-surveying profession. Consequently membership of this organisation is a sought after goal for many members within the building environment. International agreements with various countries are also in place whereby it is mutually agreed that local as well as overseas qualifications are mutually acceptable on a reciprocal basis.

A more recent addition to the list of agreements is the reciprocity agreement entered into with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which makes it possible for South African based quantity surveyors to practice in over 120 countries worldwide.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
23 March 2006

Back

Economic and Management Sciences

Education

Health Sciences

The Humanities

Law

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Theology and Religion

Open Distance Learning

Business School

We use cookies to make interactions with our websites and services easy and meaningful. To better understand how they are used, read more about the UFS cookie policy. By continuing to use this site you are giving us your consent to do this.

Accept