Bacteria Found in Brasswind Instruments: Analyses Using Culture-Dependent Method and Culture-Independent 16 S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing Method

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In wind instrument performance, there is a constant contact between the player and the instrument, during which microorganisms in the mouth flora of the player are transferred into the instrument. The inner surface of the brass instruments provides the perfect environment for microorganisms to grow. As a result, players repeatedly interact with these micro-organisms during playing. In previous studies, different kinds of microorganisms were detected in brass instruments, some of which can carry serious health hazards. PURPOSE: Revealing the common bacterial populations of brasswind instruments will be helpful in raising awareness among musicians and establishing their habits of cleaning/disinfecting their instruments. METHODS: In this study, samples from 4 different areas of 14 brass instruments were collected and analyzed using culture-dependent and -independent (16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing) approaches. The bacterial loads in different parts of the instruments were compared. RESULTS: The amount and variety of bacteria detected in the sampled instruments were unexpectedly large. While some of the found bacteria are harmless, others, such as Chryseobacterium and Elizabethkingia, may occasionally cause serious infections, especially in people with suppressed immune systems. Likewise, the Mycobacterium group includes a type that causes tuberculosis, and the Streptococcus group also shows pathogenic characteristics. The mouthpiece and leadpipe of the instruments had a much larger microbial load compared to the tuning and valve slides. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, brass instruments may harbor a wide variety of bacteria, some of which are potentially hazardous for the musicians’ health, especially if their immune systems are compromised. These risks can be minimized by regularly cleaning and disinfecting the instrument, especially the mouthpiece and leadpipe, which are the areas harboring most of the microorganisms.