More than 150 hospitals across the country are reporting at least one patient with a potentially dangerous water-borne infection, according to an article on the WCNC website.
Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria or NTM are often found in public water, but are generally not a threat to those healthy people, but are increasingly dangerous for people with compromised immune systems.
NTM can cause serious infections in people who come in contact with a contaminated water source, the article said.
Large healthcare facilities, which have complex water systems, are an especially challenging breeding ground.