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Are These Moulds Harmful To Me?

Question: I have had a Kidney transplant. In the building that we rent we had a test done for mould and found high levels of Penicillium and Aspergillus. With a weakened immune system, are these moulds harmful to me?

Answer: People with weakened immune system (i.e., immuno-compromised or immuno-suppressed individuals) are highly likely to be infected by opportunistic pathogens (disease causing organisms). Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger, for example, cause a disease called invasive aspergillosis in the lungs of immuno-compromised individuals. This happens when immuno-compromised individuals inhale airborne spores which then start growing in the lungs. Penicillium marneffei causes penicilliosis in humans. This may involve skin papules that are acne-like symptoms and also diarrhoea and fever in HIV AIDS patients.

Healthy individuals are usually not susceptible to opportunistic infections from the common saprophytic fungi.

Salmonella food poisoning and symptoms

Salmonella food poisoning has been a growing concern in recent news. It has frequently lead to recalls of beef, salads and organic products and, even peanut butter products. Salmonella food poisoning occurs when one eats raw or undercooked foods such meat, poultry, eggs or egg products. Properly cooked food can get contaminated with Salmonella if […]

Legionella pneumophila – Guidelines for Laboratory Interpretation

Legionella pneumophila is a Gram negative, aerobic bacteria that is characterized as an opportunistic pathogen. It is the cause of Legionnaires’ Disease, a severe form of pneumonia and, it is the cause of Pontiac fever, a non-pneumonic form of L. pneumophila infection. Legionella spp.’s mode of transmission is through aerosols or aspiration of contaminated water. The Public Health […]

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold (or mould, in the Queen’s English) has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost. […]