Airborne Bacteria "IN" Indoor
Environments
Indoor Bacteria have not received
as much publicity as the mold, but is indoor bacteria a health
concern?
Absolutely!
When conducting indoor air quality
test, most companies not only test for mold species and colony
forming units (cfu) they also test for bacteria.
The most publicized form of indoor
bacteria problems is Legionellosis and is an infectious disease
caused by bacteria most commonly taking two forms known as:
- Legionnaires' disease - the more severe form of the infection and
produces pneumonia.
- Pontiac fever - caused by the same bacterium,
but produces a milder respiratory illness without pneumonia which
resembles acute influenza.
While bacteria do not receive as
much publicity as mold when it comes to indoor air quality, they are
a health hazard. Some are serious human pathogens and others
especially the gram negative bacteria produce toxic compounds (endotoxins)
from the outer membrane of their cell wall. Endotoxins may have a
role in “sick building syndrome” and bacteria is the direct cause of
“dirty sock syndrome”.
Indoor airborne bacteria can
loosely be categorized into bacterial pathogens and environmental
bacteria associated with water-damaged building materials. Bacterial
pathogens are capable of causing severe diseases in humans if
inhaled, ingested or if they come into contact with the skin. The
most important airborne bacterial infections in indoor environments
are tuberculosis, nosocomial pneumonia, and legionellosis. These
infections are primarily acquired through inhalation of the water
droplets circulated by the air conditioning system.
Similar to mold, indoor bacteria
are present in the air and on surfaces. High levels of bacteria
concentration indoors is an indication of high occupancy rate, poor
ventilation, or poor building maintenance and poor HVAC system
cleanliness maintenance.
Commercial
Air Duct Cleaning and HVAC Systems Cleaning in Texas
