Studies on fungal and bacterial population of air-conditioned environments

Abstract

In tropical countries such as Brazil, there is not enough information about microbial contaminants in indoor environments with air conditioning systems. Microbial monitoring of such environments is important for the quality of human life. The aim of this work was to assess the fungal genera and bacterial morphotypes occurring in such environments. Air samples were taken indoors and outdoors from a public auditorium, a hospital, a company and

Indoor Air quality related to occupancy at an air-conditioned public building

“…For fungus, although an elevated indoor concentration was observed it was not found related to a greater number of occupants. These data were in agreement with the fact that the most probably source of air contamination by these microorganisms were indoor sources (Roos et al, 2004). Actually, the reference value for fungus is limited to 750 CFU/m 3 , suggesting that higher values must have a fungi source that should be investigated (Rao et al, 1996).…”

Survey of 1012 moldy dwellings by culture fungal analysis: Threshold proposal for asthmatic patient management

“…30 This is especially the case in subtropical and tropical areas where other species more specific to the tropical zones are isolated in high concentrations (Curvularia spp., Exophiala spp., Dreschlera spp., and Penicillium decaturense) in addition to more common species that are also found in continental climates (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Cladosporium spp.). 15,32,33 From a practical point of view, in Europe, the climatic differences between Portugal, France, and Finland are not so important in terms of temperature range, sunshine, and rainy periods 34 (Table 1). 15,32,33 From a practical point of view, in Europe, the climatic differences between Portugal, France, and Finland are not so important in terms of temperature range, sunshine, and rainy periods 34 (Table 1).…”

“…10 Different countries (Finland, Belgium, Brazil) have tried to define guidelines to quantify what levels of fungi are considered as inappropriate for dwellings for various kinds of patients compared to the healthy population. 13 However, in Brazil, 14,15 two texts from the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) from 2000 16 based on classifying moldy surface areas (>3 m² required remediation) and listing at-risk fungi, but no threshold was defined for culture analysis at that time. 11,12 In 2017, the Belgian Ministry of Health noticed that for each of its three regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) there were different criteria to characterize dwellings at risk, but none of them had been chosen as a reference because they were considered unusable (www.health.belgium.be).…”

“…11,12 In 2017, the Belgian Ministry of Health noticed that for each of its three regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) there were different criteria to characterize dwellings at risk, but none of them had been chosen as a reference because they were considered unusable (www.health.belgium.be). 13 However, in Brazil, 14,15 two texts from the Brazilian Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) from 2000 16 and from 2003 17 were published establishing referential standards for indoor air conditioning with a maximum limit of 750 cfu/m 3 for mold. In France, debate on measurement and mold thresholds began in [2004][2005][2006] with the working group of the French Superior Council of Public Health (CSHPF) which provided rules for dwelling environmental analysis.…”

Microbial Air Quality in Medical Laboratory Rooms at Benghazi Center of Infectious Diseases and Immunity

“…These can be the occupants themselves and their activities . Other factors influencing the microbial population include building maintenance, cleanliness, indoor temperature and relative humidity, type of furniture, and carpeting (Ross et al, 2004;Mandal and Brandl, 2011;Park et al, 2013).…”