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Occupational fungal exposure in the United States.

Green BJ

Exposure to microbiological agents in indoor and occupational environments. Viegas C, Viegas S, Gomes AQ, Täubel M, Sabino R, eds. Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing AG, 2017 Oct; :3-33

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-61688-9_1

20050767

The objective of this book chapter is to provide a review of recent advances in our understanding of fungal exposures encountered in United States occupational environments and the impacts that these exposures have on worker health. Occupational exposure can occur to a broad diversity of fungal bioaerosols that include spores, conidia, hyphae, yeasts, chlamydospores, and submicron fragments. Pulmonary exposure to fungal bioaerosols in the work environment can lead to some respiratory morbidities. In some cases, exposure to dimorphic fungal conidia can also result in a symptomatic pulmonary infection that can disseminate and become life threatening. Transcutaneous penetrating injuries sustained while handling vegetation may additionally implant fungal spores or hyphae and result in a subcutaneous infection. Workers may also be susceptible to dermatophytes that can proliferate in occluded regions of the skin such as interdigital spaces and cause a cutaneous infection. Occupational environments and work related tasks that can lead to fungal exposure are reviewed. Strategies to avoid worker fungal exposures including engineering and administrative controls as well as personal protective equipment are additionally provided.

Fungal diseases; Fungal infections; Fungi; Occupational exposure; Exposure assessment; Work environment; Indoor environments; Bioaerosols; Yeasts; Microorganisms; Vegetation; Infection control; Infectious agents; Pulmonary system; Skin exposure; Administrative controls; Engineering controls; Personal protective equipment; PPE; Occupational hazards; Genes; Worker health; Blastomycosis; Coccidioidomycosis; Valley Fever; Histoplasmosis; Author Keywords: Exposure assessment; fungus; dermatophytes; gene sequencing; occupational hazards

Brett J. Green, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA

20171005

Chapter

dox6@cdc.gov

Viegas C; Viegas S; Gomes AQ; Täubel M; Sabino R

2018

9783319616865

HELD

Exposure to microbiological agents in indoor and occupational environments

WV