What Are the Most Common Germs Found in Indoor Air?

No matter how clean and fresh you think your indoor air is, there’s always the possibility of the presence of bacteria. Certain bacteria can affect your home’s air quality, and it can even land on frequently-used surfaces. Here’s an overview of the most common types of germs found in indoor air in Aspen, CO.

Staphylococcus

The sphere-shaped bacterium Staphylococcus—which can survive in the presence or absence of oxygen—can produce various diseases and cause infections in various body tissues. Some diseases brought on by Staphylococcus can be mild and require no treatment, while other related diseases are potentially fatal. The thing about this bacterium is that it exists nearly everywhere, but it’s commonly found on the skin and can be present in nasal passages and the throat. Not all of this bacterium’s varieties are dangerous to human health. However, the illnesses it does cause can lead to mild or serious health risks—examples include food poisoning, toxic shock syndrome and skin infections.

Bacillus

Bacillus bacterium is very hardy, and can endure adverse conditions. This bacterium includes parasitic and non-parasitic pathogenic species. It exists in water, dust and soil, and can live in the human digestive system. Some species can cause food poisoning, others are known to cause illness or infection and some are generally harmful to humans, plants and other organisms. Below are two Bacillus species:

• Bacillus cereus: This species of the bacterium causes severe food poisoning. However, it is not as common as Salmonella or other species that produce food-borne disease. Bacillus cereus targets and contaminates only specific kinds of food, such as the external casing of rice. Also, spores can withstand pasteurization and can produce spores that are resistant to high or low temperatures.
• Bacillus subtilis: Bacillus subtilis is also called grass or hay bacillus, a species found mostly in soil and the gastrointestinal tracts of humans. Because this common bacterium is very hardy, it is resistant to extreme temperatures, chemicals and environmental factors, which makes it ideal for industrial processes. This bacterium is effective in the leather industry and detergents, and useful in the production of numerous antibiotics.

Pseudomonas

This rod-shaped bacterium—which can cause infections and produce exotoxins—is most common in soil, water and plants. Pseudomonas typically attacks individuals with compromised immune systems. People who’ve been hospitalized for an extended period of time are most at risk. Conditions that may increase the likelihood of infection include burn wounds, cystic fibrosis, HIV and AIDS. Unfortunately, infections from this bacterium are difficult to treat, since it can resist many kinds of antibiotics.

Micrococcus

Micrococcus is a sphere-shaped bacterium that’s commonly found on the skin, but it’s also found in water, soil and meat products. While relatively harmless, this organism tends to be an opportunistic pathogen, so persons with compromised immune systems need to be wary.

There are a number of germs found in the air in Aspen, CO. Reach out to the team at HealthSafe Inspections Inc. today to schedule an indoor air quality test or consultation!

Categorised in: Indoor Air Quality

This post was written by Writer