Mitigating Exposure Risks to Mucormycetes to Protect Patients, Workers, and Building Occupants

Mucormycetes are a group of fungi that can cause a rare but serious fungal infection known as mucormycosis reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These fungi live in soil and decaying organic matter.

People with a weakened immune system could get mucormycosis by inhaling fungal spores or if they enter the skin through an injury. Types of mucormycosis listed by CDC include:

• Rhinocerebral mucormycosis
• Pulmonary mucormycosis
• Gastrointestinal mucormycosis
• Cutaneous mucormycosis
• Disseminated mucormycosis

To help lower the risk of developing mucormycosis, CDC recommends at-risk people avoid direct contact with water-damaged buildings after a natural disaster, avoid areas with a lot of dust like at construction or excavation sites, and avoid activities that involve close contact with soil or dust.

“Mucor species and Rhizopus species are some of the most common causes of mucormycosis, but there are also other species,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “While most cases of mucormycosis are sporadic, outbreaks can occur. In healthcare settings, CDC reports that it can be difficult to determine whether mucormycosis is healthcare-associated or whether the infections were acquired somewhere else. To help prevent infections and other health concerns, the infection control, indoor environmental quality, and industrial hygiene professionals at CTSI offer building assessments, testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services to identify and mitigate exposure risks to mucormycetes and other microbial pathogens.”

CTSI also recently sponsored an educational video about mucormycosis and fungal exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/xewGqtqQyag

To learn more about this or other infection control, industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com, or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail