Indoor Air Quality, 3rd Edition

6

Pathogenic Microbes

In indoor air quality investigations, pathogenic microbes are disease-causing fungi and bacteria to which building occupants are most likely exposed. Although a proactive approach to pathogen identification is desirable, exposures to pathogens and toxic microbes are a rare concern in indoor environments unless a considerable number of associated illnesses are reported.

Sampling requires lengthy culture times, complicated by the presence of other environmental, nonpathogenic microbes that may mask and prevent identification of the pathogen by overgrowing the culture medium. Then, when a suspect colony is isolated, additional time is required to perform more extensive, complicated analyses and cultures to confirm its identity ...