Mucormycosis and Mitigating Infection Risks to Protect Patients, Workers and Building Occupants

Mucormycosis is a rare but serious type of fungal infection caused by a group of fungi known as mucormycetes. Mucor species and Rhizopus species are some of the most common causes of mucormycosis, however there are also other species. The fungi typically live in soil and decaying organic matter.

It is frequently a life-threatening infection warns the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency also cautions that while most cases of mucormycosis are sporadic, outbreaks have occurred. 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.

People with a weakened immune system are at a higher risk of getting mucormycosis by inhaling fungal spores or if the spores enter the skin through an injury. Various types of mucormycosis include:

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

“As with most environmental diseases, pathogen overexposure and a suppressed immune system increase your likelihood of infection. 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 involving close contact with soil or dust,” said Derrick A. Denis, Disaster Ready Emergency Preparedness and Infection Control (DR EPIC) Program Industrial Hygienist and Senior Vice President for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “At CSC, our infection control, industrial hygiene and indoor environmental quality experts are dedicated to identifying and mitigating indoor and occupational exposure risks to mucormycetes and a wide range of other microbial pathogens. We offer worksite inspections, building assessments, environmental testing and monitoring, and consulting and training services.”

Last year, CSC 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, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

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Paul Cochrane

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