Author(s)

S. Cali, P. Scheff, L. Conroy, L. Curtis, K. Baker, C.-H. Ou and F. Norlock

Abstract

Aspergillus surveillance project at an urban hospital Salvatore Call, Dr. Peter Scheff, Dr. Lorraine Conroy, Luke Curtis, Kirk Baker, Chia-Hao Ou, Felice Norlock Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Division School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, U.S.A. Abstract Aspergillus organisms are common in most ambient environments. Aspergillus organisms do not normally present a danger to healthy people, but have the potential to cause invasive disease and death in immune-compromised persons. Our department conducted a one-year surveillance study to evaluate the exposure potential at an urban, public hospital with four treatment areas for immune- compromised patients. Elements of the study included air sampling for Aspergillus organisms and other bio-aerosols, characterization of the ventilation and HVAC systems, characterization of dust collected during routine duct cleaning activities for the presence of an Aspergillus fumigatus protein, and considerations o

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