Histoplasmosis Protecting Workers at Risk

By Lenhart, Steven W., C. I. H.

Book Id: WPLBN0000130455
Format Type: PDF eBook
File Size: 0.7 MB
Reproduction Date: 2005

Title:	Histoplasmosis Protecting Workers at Risk
Author:	Lenhart, Steven W., C. I. H.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Health., Medical research, Medical reports
Collections:	Medical Library Collection
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


Citation APA MLA Chicago Lenhart, C. I. H, S. W. (n.d.). Histoplasmosis Protecting Workers at Risk. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Excerpt
This booklet is a revised edition of the NIOSH document Histoplasmosis: Protecting Workers at Risk, which was originally published in September 1997. The updated information in this booklet will help readers understand what histoplasmosis is and recognize activities that may expose workers to the disease-causing fungus Histoplasma capsulatum. The booklet also informs readers about methods they can use to protect themselves and others from exposure. Outbreaks of histoplasmosis have shared similar circumstances: People who did not know the health risks of breathing in the spores of H. capsulatum became ill and sometimes caused others nearby to become ill when they disturbed contaminated soil or accumulations of bird or bat manure. Because they were unaware of the hazard, they did not take protective measures that could have prevented illness.

Table of Contents
CONTENTS Page Disclaimer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii Authors and Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv What is histoplasmosis? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 How is histoplasmosis diagnosed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Culturing of H. capsulatum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Serologic tests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Detection of H. capsulatum antigen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Histoplasmin skin test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Where are H. capsulatum spores found? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Who can get histoplasmosis and what jobs and activities put people at risk for exposure to H. capsulatum spores? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Should workers who might be exposed to H. capsulatum have pre-exposure skin or blood tests? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 What can be done to reduce exposures to H. capsulatum? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Excluding a colony of bats or a flock of birds from a building . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Posting health risk warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Communicating health risks to workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Controlling aerosolized dust when removing bat or bird manure from a building . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Disinfecting contaminated material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Disposing of waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Controlling aerosolized dust during construction, excavation, and demolition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Wearing personal protective equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9