6.6 Fungi control

Call in professional help! If you are unsure of the biological condition of your facility or have ongoing unidentified indoor air problems, assume you have a biological emer­gency. The standing rules are as follows: Bleach what you can bleach. Use biocides with caution. Throw out what you can throw out. If you are unsure about any of these protocols, get help!

6.6.1 Ubiquitous Fungi

Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment, particularly in soil, and many are also part of the normal gastrointestinal and skin flora in humans and animals. In some areas of the U.S., certain types of fungi are endemic and occur naturally in the soil. These soil fungi include Histoplasma capsulatum, found in some midwestern states, and Coccidioid.es immitis, which is found in the southwestern U.S. and parts of Central and South America. If the soil habi­tat of these fungi is disturbed by activities such as construction or natural disasters, the fun­gal spores become airborne; when they are inhaled, they can cause infection.

6.6.2 Infection

Fungal infections can cause a variety of symptoms. Some types of fungi can infect per­sons with normal immune systems. Examples are the airborne spores of Blastomyces der-matidis, Coccidioides immitis, or Histoplasma capsulatum, which cause respiratory symptoms ranging from mild illness to pneumonia to severe disseminated disease. Other pathogenic molds, called dermatophytes, cause ringworm infections of the skin, hair, and nails, such as athlete's foot, jock itch, and scalp ringworm. Unlike most fungi these can be transmitted from person to person.

Mushrooms are also fungi, and some can cause life-threatening food poisoning. The fungi that are responsible for the recent increase in mycotic infections are those causing opportunistic infections. These organisms include Candida species, Cryptococcus neofor-mans, Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Coccidioides immitis, and Histoplasma capsulatum. Persons at high risk for opportunistic fungal infections are those with HIV infection or AIDS, those who have undergone bone marrow or organ transplants, those receiving chemotherapy for cancer, and others who have had debilitating illness, severe injuries, pro­longed hospitalization, or long-term treatment with corticosteroid or antibacterial drugs.

6.6.3 Immediate Worker Protection

Whenever possible, use remote methods for cleanup. If you must enter a biological environment, consult a certified industrial hygienist and microbiologist with experience in biological environments. At a minimum, when entering an area where any invasive activ­ities will occur, use HEPA filters for pulmonary protection and wear dermal protection for hands. All material worn or used must be either decontaminated or properly disposed.

6.6.4 Decontamination

Decontamination may consist of washing with chlorinated or other oxidizing chemi­cals (i.e., bleach or oxidizing, color-safe bleach; ozone). Biocides may also be used; how­ever, make sure that the biocides are proven effective for the particular biologicals present. All of these chemicals have in and of themselves some risk to workers. For porous surfaces, including fiberglass liners inside ducts, encapsulation of the porous surface may be required.