Has your building or home had a sewage back-up or a sprinkler system leak?

If so, dangerous bacteria such as Fecal Coliform, Total Coliform, and E. coli could have contaminated much of the building surfaces contacted during the water loss or sewage back-up.
 

Humans and animals can come into contact with bacteria through several ways:

• Skin contact: walking, laying, crawling on floors and other construction materials that have been exposed to black water (sewer water)
   
• Inhalation: breathing bacteria contaminated air
   
• Ingestion: drinking bacteria contaminated well or tap water

Fecal coliform bacteria are mostly found in drinking water that comes from private wells and small water systems. This is partly because private water supplies, small rural public water supplies and private wells are not required, by law, to be tested. Every time you drink water from one of these sources, you may be exposed to harmful levels of bacteria, which can pose immediate threat to your health. Families drinking non-chlorinated water such as from an underground well and apartment dwellers roof-top wood storage tanks are especially susceptible to bacterial contamination. Home water treatment devices utilizing GAC (Granular Activated Charcoal) as a singular filtering device may also become a breeding ground for bacteria.[return to top]

Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms that thrive in many different types of environments. Some varieties live in extremes of cold or heat, while others make their home in people's intestines, where they help digest food. Most bacteria cause no harm to people.

Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and require living hosts — such as people, plants or animals — to multiply. Otherwise, they can't survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery, redirecting it to produce the virus.

Perhaps the most important distinction between bacteria and viruses is that antibiotic drugs usually kill bacteria, but they aren't effective against viruses. In some cases, it may be difficult to determine whether bacteria or a virus is causing your symptoms. Many ailments — such as pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhea — can be caused by either type of microbe.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics has helped create strains of bacterial disease that are resistant to treatment with different types of antibiotic medications.
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AMI can test to determine if bacteria contamination has occurred by taking surface and cultured samples. If the black water loss is positive for bacteria, AMI can oversee the decontamination project of all building materials through your sewage abatement contractor.

For more specific information regarding your personal concerns about bacteria in your building, call AMI to speak to a Certified Professional.
1-800-369-8532