Mold Exposure and Health Effects Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Barbeau, Deborah N; Grimsley, L. Faye; White, LuAnn; El-Dahr, J.M.; Lichtveld, Maureen Y.

doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.012809.103643

Cited by 110 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The risk of mold infection depends on several factors related to the individual and the microorganism, including the route and magnitude of exposures, the immune status of the person exposed (28,41,142), and the virulence and pathogenicity of the microorganism. Studies to definitively measure the risk of infection that airborne mold exposures represent for immunocompromised patients are not available (41,142).…”

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies to definitively measure the risk of infection that airborne mold exposures represent for immunocompromised patients are not available (41,142). Studies assessing invasive mold infections following heavy airborne mold exposures after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita were not enough to establish the risk that these exposures represent to highly immunocompromised patients (28). However, a cluster of eight patients colonized in the respiratory tract with Syncephalastrum spp.…”

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Besides geography and climate, other factors, such as temperature, light, air pollutants, and factors related to human activity, affect the risk of environmental mold contamination (5,17,39,117,142,269,289,310), and probably the risk of infection (247,348). Environmental studies specific for Mucormycetes species are also still scarce (5,28,289). Because of the limited information about the conditions in which Mucormycetes infections occur and considering the high mortality rates of mucormycosis in immunocompromised patients, any circumstance that is possible to prevent heavy exposure to molds is desirable.…”

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mucormycosis Caused by Unusual Mucormycetes, Non-Rhizopus, -Mucor, and -Lichtheimia Species

2011

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SUMMARY Rhizopus , Mucor , and Lichtheimia (formerly Absidia ) species are the most common members of the order Mucorales that cause mucormycosis, accounting for 70 to 80% of all cases. In contrast, Cunninghamella , Apophysomyces , Saksenaea , Rhizomucor , Cokeromyces , Actinomucor , and Syncephalastrum species individually are responsible for fewer than 1 to 5% of reported cases of mucormycosis. In this review, we provide an overview of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis of, treatment of, and prognosis for unusual Mucormycetes infections (non- Rhizopus , - Mucor , and - Lichtheimia species). The infections caused by these less frequent members of the order Mucorales frequently differ in their epidemiology, geographic distribution, and disease manifestations. Cunninghamella bertholletiae and Rhizomucor pusillus affect primarily immunocompromised hosts, mostly resulting from spore inhalation, causing pulmonary and disseminated infections with high mortality rates. R. pusillus infections are nosocomial or health care related in a large proportion of cases. While Apophysomyces elegans and Saksenaea vasiformis are occasionally responsible for infections in immunocompromised individuals, most cases are encountered in immunocompetent individuals as a result of trauma, leading to soft tissue infections with relatively low mortality rates. Increased knowledge of the epidemiology and clinical presentations of these unusual Mucormycetes infections may improve early diagnosis and treatment.

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Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Preventionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mucormycosis Caused by Unusual Mucormycetes, Non-Rhizopus, -Mucor, and -Lichtheimia Species

2011

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“…In addition the mould growth in indoor space was more often among flood-damaged homes and its effect continued for at least one year. Flooding in the New Orleans area after hurricanes created conditions for easily growing mould in homes [3,5]. The flood-impacted building materials were contributing to poor indoor air quality more than three months after flood damage [20].…”

Section: Indoor Environmental Quality After Floodingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor environmental problems and health status in water-damaged homes due to tsunami disaster in Japan

Hasegawa

Yokota

Yanagi

et al. 2015

Building and Environment

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“…Water damage can aid mold growth and in turn exacerbate respiratory ailments such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, bronchitis, and other respiratory infections, the rates of which increased among people affected by flooding due to Hurricane Katrina. [47][48][49] One example of a URI, potentially among many, was the story of a young person who contracted pneumonia after a few weeks of engaging in relief work and living in the Red Hook Houses. In addition to health concerns from disease and sanitation issues, there were security concerns due to the darkness that covered the neighborhood for weeks.…”

Section: Lessons From Hurricane Sandy: a Community Response In Brooklynmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lessons from Hurricane Sandy: a Community Response in Brooklyn, New York

et al. 2013

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The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events have increased in recent decades; one example is Hurricane Sandy. If the frequency and severity continue or increase, adaptation and mitigation efforts are needed to protect vulnerable populations and improve daily life under changed weather conditions. This field report examines the devastation due to Hurricane Sandy experienced in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood consisting of geographically isolated low-lying commercial and residential units, with a concentration of low-income housing, and disproportionate rates of poverty and poor health outcomes largely experienced by Black and Latino residents. Multiple sources of data were reviewed, including street canvasses, governmental reports, community flyers, and meeting transcripts, as well as firsthand observations by a local nonprofit Red Hook Initiative (RHI) and community members, and social media accounts of the effects of Sandy and the response to daily needs. These data are considered within existing theory, evidence, and practice on protecting public health during extreme weather events. Firsthand observations show that a community-based organization in Red Hook, RHI, was at the center of the response to disaster relief, despite the lack of staff training in response to events such as Hurricane Sandy. Review of these data underscores that adaptation and response to climate change and likely resultant extreme weather is a dynamic process requiring an official coordinated governmental response along with on-the-ground volunteer community responders.

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Mold Exposure and Health Effects Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

Cited by 110 publications

References 29 publications

Mucormycosis Caused by Unusual Mucormycetes, Non-Rhizopus, -Mucor, and -Lichtheimia Species

Mucormycosis Caused by Unusual Mucormycetes, Non-Rhizopus, -Mucor, and -Lichtheimia Species

Indoor environmental problems and health status in water-damaged homes due to tsunami disaster in Japan

Lessons from Hurricane Sandy: a Community Response in Brooklyn, New York

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