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Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg

Title:		Sampling for indoor fungi: what the clinician needs to know
Author(s):		Portnoy JM; Kennedy K; Barnes C;
Address:		"The Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics Kansas City, Missouri 64108, USA. jportnoy@cmh.edu"
Journal Title:		Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
Year:		2005
Volume:		13
Issue:		3
Page Number:		165 - 170
DOI:		10.1097/01.moo.0000162372.73378.10
ISSN/ISBN:		1068-9508 (Print) 1068-9508 (Linking)
Abstract:		"PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A great deal of concern has arisen recently regarding the potential adverse effects of indoor fungi. Our understanding of this complex problem has been hampered by a lack of standardized protocols for performing an indoor assessment for fungi. Without such standards, it is difficult to compare results from one study with those from another or to measure the effect of indoor fungal contamination on a building and its occupants. RECENT FINDINGS: References were identified that were relevant to indoor fungal sampling, health effects or remediation by searching Pubmed using the keywords 'indoor fungi.' Fungi cause three primary adverse effects: (a) they can damage a building, (b) they can render a building unpleasant to live in by looking and smelling bad, and (c) they might cause adverse health effects in sensitive individuals. Sampling methods used to evaluate indoor environments include air sampling for spores, measurement of allergens in house dust, and determination of microbially generated volatile organic compounds, ergosterols, glucans, and mycotoxins, as well as environmental conditions that lead to fungal contamination. SUMMARY: Prevention of fungal contamination involves removal of moisture sources and humidity and early identification. If fungi are found on indoor surfaces, they can be removed using a dilute bleach/detergent solution that both kills the microorganisms and denatures allergens and toxins. Larger areas require professional remediation"
Keywords:		"Air *Air Pollution, Indoor Fungi/growth & development/*immunology Health Status Humans Hypersensitivity/immunology Immunoglobulin E/immunology;"
Notes:		"MedlinePortnoy, Jay M Kennedy, Kevin Barnes, Charles eng 2005/05/24 Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2005 Jun; 13(3):165-70. doi: 10.1097/01.moo.0000162372.73378.10"