Water–vapor treatment of shower systems in healthcare facilities: reshaping built-environment microbiomes to improve Legionella control and protect at-risk patients

Water-vapor treatment induces substantial ecological restructuring of shower biofilm microbiomes, affecting both taxonomic composition and functional capacity associated with biofilm resilience and pathogen persistence. These findings support that perturbation of key ecological functions within built-environment microbiomes can influence opportunistic pathogen dynamics and encourage the development of microbiome-informed strategies to complement conventional water safety management, particularly in healthcare settings. Video Abstract.