Microbial Prevalence in Domestic Humidifiers

Overview

Journal Appl Environ Microbiol

Specialties Environmental Health
Microbiology

Date 1980 Apr 1

PMID 7377779

Citations 6

Authors

H A Burge

W R SOLOMON

J R Boise

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The prevalence of viable thermophilic bacteria and actinomycetes and mesophilic fungi was examined in 145 samples from 110 domestic humidifiers. A total of 72 and 43% of furnace and console humidifier samples, respectively, contained viable thermophilic bacteria, whereas 60 and 72% of these samples produced mesophilic fungal growth. Thermophilic actinomycetes were recovered from seven humidifier samples. Efforts to detect thermophilic actinomycete antigens in 15 humidifier fluid samples were not successful. Antifoulants added to humidifier fluid reservoirs had no apparent effect on microbial frequency. Airborne microbial recoveries did not reflect patterns of humidifier contamination with respect to either kinds or numbers of microorganisms in 20 homes in which volumetric air samples were obtained during humidifier operation.

Citing Articles

Humidifier lung induced by endotoxin and various pathogens: Characteristic differences from other phenotypes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Shimoda M, Morimoto K, Tanaka Y, Ken O, Yoshimori K Respir Med Case Rep. 2020; 31:101267.

PMID: 33251102 PMC: 7677704. DOI: 10.1016/j.rmcr.2020.101267.

Mycobacterium gordonae-induced humidifier lung.

Utsugi H, Usui Y, Nishihara F, Kanazawa M, Nagata M BMC Pulm Med. 2015; 15:108.

PMID: 26420433 PMC: 4589115. DOI: 10.1186/s12890-015-0107-y.

Dustborne fungi in large office buildings.

Chao H, Milton D, Schwartz J, Burge H Mycopathologia. 2002; 154(2):93-106.

PMID: 12086106 DOI: 10.1023/a:1015592224368.

Source, significance, and control of indoor microbial aerosols: human health aspects.

Spendlove J, Fannin K Public Health Rep. 1983; 98(3):229-44.

PMID: 6867255 PMC: 1424447.

Indirect health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments.

Arundel A, Sterling E, Biggin J, Sterling T Environ Health Perspect. 1986; 65:351-61.

PMID: 3709462 PMC: 1474709. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.8665351.

References

Schulze T, EDMONDSON E, Pierce A, SANFORD J . Studies of a new humidifying device as a potential source of bacterial aerosols. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1967; 96(3):517-9. DOI: 10.1164/arrd.1967.96.3.517. View

Cartwright R, Hargrave P . Pseudomonas in ventilators. Lancet. 1970; 1(7636):40. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(70)90553-2. View

SOLOMON W . A simplified application of the Andersen sampler to the study of airborne fungus particles. J Allergy. 1970; 45(1):1-13. DOI: 10.1016/0021-8707(70)90012-2. View

Fink J, BANASZAK E, THIEDE W, Barboriak J . Interstitial pneumonitis due to hypersensitivity to an organism contaminating a heating system. Ann Intern Med. 1971; 74(1):80-3. DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-74-1-80. View

Fink J, Resnick A, SALVAGGIO J . Presence of thermophilic acintomycetes in residential heating systems. Appl Microbiol. 1971; 22(4):730-1. PMC: 376397. DOI: 10.1128/am.22.4.730-731.1971. View

Tourville D, WEISS W, WERTLAKE P, Leudemann G . Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to contamination of home humidifier. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1972; 49(4):245-51. DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(72)90087-5. View

Covelli H, Kleeman J, Martin J, Landau W, Hughes R . Bacterial emission from both vapor and aerosol humidifiers. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1973; 108(3):698-701. DOI: 10.1164/arrd.1973.108.3.698. View

SOLOMON W . Fungus aerosols arising from cold-mist vaporizers. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1974; 54(4):222-8. DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(74)90064-5. View

BANASZAK E, BARBORIAK J, Fink J, Scanlon G, SCHLUETER D, Sosman A . Epidemiologic studies relating thermophilic fungi and hypersensitivity lung syndromes. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974; 110(5):585-91. DOI: 10.1164/arrd.1974.110.5.585. View

10.

SOLOMON W . Assessing fungus prevalence in domestic interiors. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1975; 56(3):235-42. DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(75)90095-0. View

11.

Seabury J, Becker B, SALVAGGIO J . Home humidifier thermophilic actinomycete isolates. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1976; 57(2):174-6. DOI: 10.1016/0091-6749(76)90037-3. View

12.

Kurup V, Fink J . A scheme for the identification of thermophilic actinomycetes associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis. J Clin Microbiol. 1975; 2(1):55-61. PMC: 274125. DOI: 10.1128/jcm.2.1.55-61.1975. View

13.

Kurup V, Fink J, Bauman D . Thermophilic actinomycetes from the environment. Mycologia. 1976; 68(3):662-6. View

14.

Miller M, Patterson R, Fink J, Roberts M . Chronic hypersensitivity lung disease with recurrent episodes of hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to a contaminated central humidifer. Clin Allergy. 1976; 6(5):451-62. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1976.tb01929.x. View

15.

Burke G, CARRINGTON C, Strauss R, Fink J, GAENSLER E . Allergic alveolitis caused by home humidifiers. Unusual clinical features and electron microscopic findings. JAMA. 1977; 238(25):2705-8. View