Predictors of microbial agents in dust and respiratory health in the Ecrhs

Abstract

BackgroundDampness and mould exposure have been repeatedly associated with respiratory health. However, less is known about the specific agents provoking or arresting health effects in adult populations. We aimed to assess predictors of microbial agents in mattress dust throughout Europe and to investigate associations between microbial exposures, home characteristics and respiratory health.MethodsSeven different fungal and bacterial parameters were assessed in mattress dust from 956 adult ECRHS II participants in addition to interview based home characteristics. Associations between microbial parameters and the asthma score and lung function were examined using mixed negative binomial regression and linear mixed models, respectively.ResultsIndoor dampness and pet keeping were significant predictors for higher microbial agent concentrations in mattress dust. Current mould and condensation in the bedroom were significantly associated with lung function decline and current mould at home was positively associated with the asthma score. Higher concentrations of muramic acid were associated with higher mean ratios of the asthma score (aMR 1.37, 95%CI 1.17-1.61). There was no evidence for any association between fungal and bacterial components and lung function.ConclusionIndoor dampness was associated with microbial levels in mattress dust which in turn was positively associated with asthma symptoms.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12890-015-0042-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Microbial characteristics in homes of asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults in the ECRHS cohort

“…To our knowledge, there is only 1 comparable study which investigated the associations between microbial exposures measured in the home environment with respiratory disorders in adults. A recent study that had its population also drawn from the ECRHS II cohort reported an association of higher levels of muramic acid in mattress dust with the asthma symptom score, an effect opposite to the current findings. Tischer et al utilized a population of 956 subjects in 22 centers from 10 countries, whereas our current study analyzed 397 study subjects from 14 centers located in 7 countries in an asthma case‐control design; the 2 study populations did not overlap as concerns the study participants.…”

Building dampness and mold in European homes in relation to climate, building characteristics and socio-economic status: The European Community Respiratory Health Survey ECRHS II

“…This study did not include any objective measurements of microbial markers in household dust. However, geographical and domestic determinants of the concentration of microbial components (endotoxin, muramic acid, and bacterial and fungal DNA) in dust collected from the bed have been analyzed in two recent publications based on a subset of the ECRHS study …”

Cat, Dog and Horse Allergens in Swedish Day Care Centres-Associations with Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO) among Day Care Centre Staff

“…One possible explanation is that there was a correlation between dog allergen and bacterial components in dust in our study and that the bacterial compounds could have immune-modulating properties lowering FeNO levels. Dog keeping is associated with increased levels of various bacterial components in home dust, including mycobacteria species DNA, gram positive bacteria DNA, gram negative bacteria DNA and muramic acid, an indicator of gram-positive bacteria (Tischer et al, 2015). Moreover, dogs can be a source of endotoxin in home dust (Chen et al, 2012).…”