Abstract
The aerosolization of microorganisms can occur in a variety of environments, and in certain situations can induce pulmonary reactions in exposed persons. One example of this situation occurs in the operation of humidification systems. The pulmonary reaction is thought to result from the microbial contamination of the water used in the humidification system coupled with the dispersion of the contaminants by the air system being humdified. This aerosolization of microbes and their metabolites can cause disease by infection as is seen in “Legionnaire’s Disease” (Basich, et al 1980), by inducing an allergic and/or asthmatic reaction (Solomon, 1974), or by inducing an acute, febrile pulmonary reaction often referred to as “Humidifier Fever” (Parks, 1982).
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Lewis, D.M., Dutkiewicz, J., Sorenson, W.G., Mamolen, M., Hall, J.E. (1990). Microbiological and Serological Studies of an Outbreak of “Humidifier Fever” in a Print Shop. In: Llewellyn, G.C., O’Rear, C.E. (eds) Biodeterioration Research. Biodeterioration Research, vol 3. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9453-3_37
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9453-3_37
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